Paris (EFE).- France is today awaiting the opinion of the nine members of the Constitutional Council who, starting at 5:30 p.m. local time (15:30 GMT), will decide whether to validate -totally or partially- or censor the unpopular reform of pensions that raises the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years.
The expected opinion comes one day after the twelfth day of protests against the reform, which attracted fewer protesters than in the previous ones, although it continued to have crowds in the streets.
In this climate of social and political tension, which has lasted for months now, the Constitutional Council must determine whether the reform complies with the principles of the French Magna Carta. The pressure is such that a police cordon has been deployed around number 2 rue Montpensier to prevent possible disturbances.
In addition to this tricky constitutional evaluation, the body chaired by the former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius (1984-1986) will also rule on whether or not to call a Popular Initiative Referendum (RIP) precisely on the pension reform.
In the event that the “wise” of the Council see no buts, the road for that RIP to see the light would still be long. Its promoters (all left-wing parties) would have nine months to get the support of 10% of the electoral body (some 4.88 million signatures).
If they succeed, the two legislative chambers – the National Assembly and the Senate – should also review the text within six months. Since it was incorporated into the Constitution in 2008, under the mandate of Nicolas Sarkozy, no Popular Initiative Referendum has met the conditions to be carried out.
Union leaders warn that the fight will not end
At the end of the Parisian march on Thursday, the two main union leaders in the country, Laurent Berger (CFDT) and Sophie Binet (CGT), warned that the fight will not end with the judicial decision of the Constitutional Council, implying that they hope that be favorable to the government of Emmanuel Macron.
The president, who has been on an official trip to China and then to the Netherlands in recent days, said he was available to meet with the unions, once the law has passed the constitutional screening, something that has outraged the representatives of Workers.
Despite social and political pressure, Macron has maintained his reform against all odds, alleging that the increase in the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 is essential for the balance of public accounts.
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