Paris (HRNW) – The French parliament was on Monday to start debating a contested pension reform championed by President Emmanuel Macron a day ahead of new strikes and mass demonstrations against the plan.
The reform is the flagship domestic policy of Macron’s second and final term in office, with the president determined to implement it in the face of fierce opposition from the political left and unions, but also the wider public.
He faces a dual challenge from the street and in parliament, where his ruling party lost its overall majority in elections last year even though it remains the largest faction.
His government under Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wants to pass the legislation with the help of the right, and without recourse to the 49.3 article of the constitution.
This article allows the adoption of a text without a vote, unless a vote of confidence is called, in a move that would risk stoking more protests.