Macron Government Bypasses France’s National Assembly to Pass Pension Overhaul
The government of French President Emmanuel Macron invoked a special provision of France’s constitution Thursday to bypass parliament and increase the country’s retirement age, an act of defiance that escalates the leader’s standoff with street protesters and opposition lawmakers.The use of Article 49 of the French constitution allows the Macron government to enact a contentious overhaul of France’s pension system after it struggled to cobble together enough votes in Parliament. But the maneuver comes at a high political price: Protesters and opposition parties that have painted Mr. Macron as an authoritarian now have more ammunition to mobilize the masses.
Macron Government Bypasses France’s National Assembly to Pass Pension Overhaul
French President Emmanuel Macron’s government invoked special constitutional powers to raise the country’s retirement age, a step that places him at odds with protesters and lawmakers.