After weeks of sometimes violent public protests over proposals to raise the retirement age, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said France needed “a healing phase.” Still, she gave no obvious route out of the political upheaval.
As Macron dodged a final vote in parliament, the trade union-led protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform became general resentment against him.
Although reduced numbers in street marches around France on Thursday showed the demonstrations might be losing pace, the change is highly unpopular and emphasized Macron’s weakened position now that he lacks a functional majority in parliament.
“Avoid pushing. Let’s relax… It needs peace “Le Monde interviewed Borne on Friday.
Macron and his cabinet seek to raise the legal retirement age by two years to 64 to avoid a pension budget shortfall. However, trade unions argue money may be found elsewhere.
Union leaders and demonstrators say the only way out is to repeal the legislation, which the government has consistently resisted.
“If you want appeasement, you must suspend this reform,” moderate CFDT union leader Laurent Berger told BFM television on Friday.
Bill opponents await the Constitutional Council’s ruling on April 14. The council can knock it down if the law violates the Constitution, although it rarely does.
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