France's top constitutional body has cleared the Macron government's highly unpopular move to raise the state pension age from 62 to 64.
The Constitutional Council also rejected calls for a referendum by political opponents but struck out some of the reforms citing legal flaws.
Twelve days of protests have been held against the reforms since January.
In March, the government used a special constitutional power to force through the reforms without a vote.
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The French constitutional court on Friday approved the key elements of President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform while rejecting certain parts of the legislation. Pushing the legal retirement age for drawing a full pension from 62 to 64, the legislation is deeply unpopular in France and has triggered months of mass protests.
ReplyDeleteProtesters gathered outside Paris City Hall, holding banners reading "climate of anger" and "no end to the strikes until the reform is pulled" as the Constitutional Council's verdict was announced.
ReplyDeletePolice are expecting up to 10,000 people to gather again in Paris on Friday night, raising fears of the vandalism and clashes that have marred recent rallies.
The Constitutional Council, a short walk from the Louvre museum in the centre of the French capital, has been protected with barriers, and dozens of riot police are on guard nearby.