Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on Thursday in the National Assembly that French President Emmanuel Macron will be using special constitutional powers to pass the proposed pension reform bill, despite it not yet being voted on. The bill aims to increase France’s retirement age from 62 to 64, and has been met with controversy and widespread protests. This move by the government is likely to further fuel the ongoing protest movement in the country.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne declared that the government would activate Article 49.3 of the French Constitution.
2 minutes 30 surréalistes à l'Assemblée Nationale. Elisabeth Borne ne peut pas annoncer le 49.3, des députés de tous les bords chantent la Marseillaise , les députés LFI brandissent une pancarte "64 ans c'est non", d'autres lancent "démission". #DirectAN #ReformeDesRetraites pic.twitter.com/VrXclIg7YA
— Hugo Capelli (@Hugo_Capelli) March 16, 2023
Article 49.3 of the French Constitution allows the Prime Minister to engage the responsibility of his or her government before the National Assembly on a piece of legislation. This means that the legislation is considered adopted unless a motion of censure is filed within 24 hours of the announcement. This procedure is often used to pass controversial pieces of legislation without extended parliamentary debate.
FRANCE – Macron has gone against his own parliament and his own people, to trigger Article 49.3, in the tradition of all dictators. He thinks he knows best!
This is the response. In the end the people will choose liberté 🔥
— Bernie's Tweets (@BernieSpofforth) March 16, 2023
The article has been used several times in the history of the Fifth French Republic, often for important reforms such as the retirement reform in 2016. Its use has been criticized for being anti-democratic and preventing in-depth parliamentary debate.
Since January, opponents of the pension reform bill proposed by the Borne government in France have organized a series of general strikes and demonstrations. The proposed pension reform bill aims to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years old, and despite the ongoing demonstrations, President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized that the reforms will proceed. In response, French unions have declared further strikes and protests for January 31st, with the aim of halting the government’s plans.
Así está París después de que Macron haya anunciado un decretazo para subir la edad de jubilación de los 62 a los 64 años. En España ya vamos por los 68 años y no se convoca huelga general desde hace una década. pic.twitter.com/d3QO3qlPAa
— PabloMM (@pablom_m) March 16, 2023
The new law would also increase annual pension contributions from 41 to 43 payments throughout the year. The strikes have caused cancellations of some flights out of Orly Airport, while the Eurostar website reported the cancellation of many routes between Paris and London. As of early March, trains around the country continue to be affected by strikes and protests, with an estimated 1.1 to 1.4 million people participating in over 260 protests across the country.
BREAKING: France, electricians and gas workers sing "Emmanuel Macron, if you continue, there will be complete darkness at your place!"
Moments later: The ''Fort de Brégançon'', Emmanuel Macron's official residence, was deprived of electricity by pic.twitter.com/8hvPWCtcyZ… https://t.co/ck6mANtcnX
— Antonio Sabato Jr (@AntonioSabatoJr) March 16, 2023
As part of the ongoing protest, union members have blocked fuel deliveries, with the intention of crippling the French economy. Macron’s proposal to raise the retirement age has been compared to former President Nicholas Sarkozy’s 2010 reform, which raised the retirement age from 60 to 62 and led to massive strikes and protests across France. Public opinion polling analysis has shown that Sarkozy’s push for reform played a role in driving voters to both the Socialist Party and the far-right National Front in the 2012 Presidential election.
FRANCE – Macron has triggered Article 49.3
This adopts his pension reform plan WITHOUT a vote in the French National Assembly.
The people chant for him to resign, after weeks of violent protests. But no one is listening to the people anymore.
— Bernie's Tweets (@BernieSpofforth) March 16, 2023
The last time Article 49.3 of the French Constitution was used was in February 2020 by the Philippe government to pass controversial pension reforms. The use of this article caused significant protests and strikes across the country. Since then, there have been calls to reform or abolish Article 49.3, with some arguing that it undermines parliamentary democracy.