French government survives two confidence votes in boost to pension reforms

President Macron’s controversial pensions overhaul clears first hurdle amid anger over ‘dictatorial behaviour’

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Demonstrations in Paris against the French Government's pension reform bill after French Unions called for a day of National Strikes in response to French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe enacting article 49.3 of the constitution to force through the pension reform bill in the National Assembly on March 03, 2020 in Paris, France. The bill merges 42 different pension schemes into a single, points-based system, to have everyone in France retire at the same time, and is largely opposed by French Unions and follows months of strikes and protests. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
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French President Emmanuel Macron’s government survived two no-confidence votes, opening the way for it to push through an overhaul of the country’s complex pensions system on Wednesday.

Protesters across the country railed against the planned changes in their thousands on Tuesday. The current eligibility age for a full pension is 62, but many fear the reforms will force people work longer for less money.

The Champs-Elysee was lit up with flares as politicians in the National Assembly accused Mr Macron of “dictatorial behaviour” in a debate that went on into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Opposition politicians from the left and the right, responding to protesters’ anger at Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s decision last week to invoke a special constitutional power to push the retirement bill through without a vote, called the two confidence votes against Mr Macron’s centrist government.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Protestors dressed as the icon Rosie the Riveter chant in protest to the French Government's pension reform bill during demonstrations in response to French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe enacting article 49.3 of the constitution to force through the pension reform bill in the National Assembly on March 03, 2020 in Paris, France. The bill merges 42 different pension schemes into a single, points-based system, to have everyone in France retire at the same time, and is largely opposed by French Unions and follows months of strikes and protests. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
Mr Macron's proposed changes merge 42 different pension schemes into a single, points-based system, to have everyone in France retire at the same time, and is largely opposed by French Unions. Getty Images

But both votes fell far short of the 289 votes needed to pass, helped in part by the large Assembly majority enjoyed by Mr Macron’s Republic on the Move party.

The bill has now cleared the lower house, and will next go to the Senate, where conservatives have the majority.

Mr Philippe defended his decision to force the bill through, and insisted the retirement reform was the only way to save France’s welfare system as the population gets older and life expectancy lengthens.

“This model is our most precious asset, it’s our national treasure,” Mr Philippe told lawmakers.

“We must fix it when it is not working, to be able to pass it on to our children.”

The government hopes to pass the law by summer. But debates on the bill in the lower house were slowed by a record 41,000 amendments proposed by the opposition.

Mr Macron’s ambition to reform France’s pensions system prompted the worst strikes in decades throughout December and January.

Workers’ unions brought public transportation in the country to a near standstill and disrupted schools, hospitals and courts.

New strikes and protests are planned for March 31.

The pension overhaul was a key promise of Mr Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign. Mr Macron says the proposed system, which aims to unify 42 state-funded pension regimes, will be fairer and more sustainable.

The changes would end some specific pension plans under which certain people, like railway workers, are allowed to retire in their 50s, and others, like lawyers, pay less taxes.