France’s pension reform, which continues to draw strong opposition after its passage, was born out of a campaign promise by Emmanuel Macron ahead of his re-election as president.

AFP recalls the main dates of the project, which follows the first reform attempt, more ambitious, in the first five-year period, which was stopped on March 16, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Legal age is 65 years

Re-elected in April 2022 after campaigning on a promise to raise the statutory retirement age to “65”, Emmanuel Macron on July 14 called for “responsible compromises” for the reform to take effect in the summer of 2023.

64 years old

On October 26, Macron said he was “open” to raising the retirement age to 64 instead of 65.

After lengthy consultations in December, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne unveiled a reform on January 10 that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030.

Mass mobilization

United front of trade unions against the project. Eight major organizations managed to mobilize en masse on January 19: “over two million” demonstrators, according to the CGT (1.12 million, according to the Ministry of the Interior).

The government adopted its reform on January 23 in the Council of Ministers.

A record number of people on the street

On January 31, the second day of the protest gathers a record number of people: 1.27 million according to the police, 2.5 million according to the trade unions.

Minister Bourne stuck with it, but on February 4 he made a concession on “a long career”, hoping to win over reluctant right-wing MPs.

Electric debate

On February 6, a debate began in the National Assembly under street pressure, with two new days of protest on February 7 and 11.

The debate rocked the Bourbon Palace, sparking numerous incidents between MPs from La France insoumise (LFI, Radical Left) and the government.

No discussion or voting

The first reading debate ended on February 17 with no debate or vote on the key delay-to-64 measure due to the LFI filibuster.

The examination will begin on March 2 in a calmer atmosphere in the Senate.

“Historical” mobilization…

The Unitarian mobilization on March 7 was of “historic” proportions: 1.28 million demonstrators, according to the police, 3.5 million for the CGT.

The Inter-Union asked in vain to be accepted by Emmanuel Macron. The strikes concern transportation, garbage collection, fuel depots/refineries, electricity/gas, education.

The Senate adopts…

The Senate continues to consider the article on raising the retirement age with passage on March 9, followed by accelerated passage of the entire bill on March 11.

Entry into force

Faced with an uncertain vote by LPR (right) MPs, on March 16, Emmanuel Macron decided to force the bill through a non-vote in the Assembly through the 49.3 procedure.

Social protest is reviving: rallies are multiplying, sometimes stormy. Garbage piles up on the streets of Paris.

The bill was adopted…

On March 20, the Assembly rejected two no-confidence motions, one of which, cross-party, was rejected at the border. The reform was adopted by the parliament.

The strike at the oil refineries is intensifying, transportation remains severely disrupted.

Prepare for “unpopularity”…

On the 22nd, Emmanuel Macron declared that he was ready to “assume unpopularity” for the sake of “necessary” reform. The trade unions reacted angrily.

Blockades and strikes are intensifying at oil refineries, shipping and ports. The ninth day of protest gathered more than a million people (police) and was marked by violence. The aggressive methods of the cops on the BRAV-M motorcycle are in the center of criticism.

Royal visit postponed…

Social unrest led to the postponement of King Charles III’s first official visit to France, scheduled for March 26-29.

Bourne appeals to the unions, but does not delay reform. She rejected the idea of ​​”mediation” put forward by CFDT leader Laurent Berger.

On Tuesday, the tenth day of mobilization, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 740,000 demonstrators were gathered (more than two million, according to the trade unions), and the number of participants is decreasing.