Your current location:HOME >entertainment >French PM deploys constitutional power to force passage of pension reform bill 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 17:25:33 Source: Internet compilationEdit:entertainment
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne delivers a speech to announce the use of the article 49.3, a s
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne delivers a speech to announce the use of the article 49.3, a special clause in the French Constitution, to push the pensions reform bill through the lower house of parliament without a vote by lawmakers, at the National Assembly in Paris, France, March 16, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]
PARIS - French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Thursday activated an article of the country's Constitution that allows the government to force passage of the controversial pension reform bill without a vote at the National Assembly.
"We cannot gamble on the future of our pensions, this reform is necessary," Borne told the National Assembly, where the government does not have an absolute majority.
"Because I am attached to our social model, and because I believe in parliamentary democracy, it is on your reform that I am ready to engage my responsibility," Borne said.
According to Paragraph 3 of Article 49 (49.3) of the French Constitution, the prime minister may, after consulting with the Council of Ministers, impose the adoption of a bill by the National Assembly without a vote. The only way for the National Assembly to veto this is to pass a no-confidence motion against the government.
Just hours after Borne's announcement, major unions in France called on working people in the country to participate in a 9th general mobilization on March 23.
Some 6,000 people demonstrated at Place de la Concorde (Concorde Square) in Paris against the use of Article 49.3 by the government, leading to clashes with security forces and arresting 38.
On Thursday morning, the French Senate adopted the definitive version of the pension reform bill, which will raise the retirement age by two years to 64 from 2027.
A total of 193 French senators voted in favor of the bill, and 114 against. The text had been debated the day before by a joint committee of seven senators and seven members of the National Assembly.
Borne laid out details of the pension reform plan in January, under which the legal retirement age would be progressively raised by three months a year from 62 to 64 by 2030, and a guaranteed minimum pension would be introduced.
Under the plan, as of 2027 at least 43 years of work would be required to be eligible for a full pension.
In 2021, France's expenditure on the pension system equaled 13.8 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). However, the country's Pensions Advisory Council (COR) said that the share of pension expenditure would rise sharply from 14.2 percent to 14.7 percent between 2027 and 2032, due to a significant contraction in GDP.
In a report published by the COR in September 2022, the pension system watchdog said that from 2022 to 2032, the country's pension system would be in deficit.
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co2024-05-21 17:22
Corrections defends pace of change: 'There is no reluctance'2024-05-21 17:17
Pharmac inks deal with GlaxoSmithKline for new cancer, HIV and COPD drugs2024-05-21 17:16
China: Prime Minister very positive on ending trade disputes with China on visit to Shanghai2024-05-21 17:11
Nadal returns to Roland Garros to practice amid doubts over fitness and form2024-05-21 17:08
Truck driver who ignored detour warnings, caused traffic chaos may be charged2024-05-21 17:07
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping2024-05-21 16:56
VOX POPULI: The special charm of Gaudi’s unfinished work: Sagrada Familia2024-05-21 16:02
Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse2024-05-21 15:43
Compromised stopbanks pose ongoing risk for Spring Creek residents2024-05-21 14:47
Messi in and Dybala out in Argentina squad for pre2024-05-21 17:23
Russian missiles pound Ukraine's embattled energy system2024-05-21 17:14
As it happened: Rain lashes North and South Islands2024-05-21 17:05
VOX POPULI: Molds can make food colorful and tasty but they can also be lethal2024-05-21 16:45
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire2024-05-21 16:41
VOX POPULI: Kishida’s gift of cherry seedlings to the U.S. raises uneasy feeling2024-05-21 16:04
NZ public service job cuts: what we know so far2024-05-21 15:41
VOX POPULI: History of ‘shunto’ spring labor offensive seems timely2024-05-21 14:55
Fresh heartache for cancer2024-05-21 14:49
Three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Israeli airstrike2024-05-21 14:41