France's Macron to force through pension reform with no vote

The French government has been forced to push through unpopular pension reforms, to avoid a knife-edge vote in the National Assembly.

Although the plan to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 passed the upper house on Thursday, ministers realized they might not win the support of MPs.

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne was jeered as she invoked article 49.3 of the constitution.

That enables the government to avoid a vote in the Assembly.