French fury as pension reforms pushed through parliament without a vote

Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated in France after President Emmanuel Macron used a special constitutional power to force controversial pension reforms through the parliament without calling a vote. The government used the provision known as Article 49.3 after realising it would lose the vote to raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64.

Garbages are set on fire by protesters after a demonstration near Concorde square, in Paris, Thursday, March 16, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron has shunned parliament and imposed a highly unpopular change to the nation's pension system, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Source: AAP / Lewis Joly/AP

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