France: France’s constitutional court has approved President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms, leading to new nationwide protests against the plan.

The nine-member Constitutional Council ruled in favour of key provisions, including raising the retirement age to 64 from 62, judging the legislation to be in accordance with the law.

Six minor proposals were rejected, including collecting data from large companies to publish data on how many people over 55 they employ as well as a separate idea to create a special contract for older workers.

The ruling paves the way for the President to implement controversial changes that have sparked months of protests and strikes.

Even though the decision represents a victory for Mr. Macron, the president’s personal ratings are close to their lowest-ever level, and many voters have been outraged by his decision to defy hostile public opinion and ram the pensions law through the lower house of parliament without a vote.

“Stay the course, that is my motto,” Mr. Macron commented recently.

Thousands of protesters have gathered outside Paris city hall and booed the court decision. Some then marched through the city centre.

“All the labour unions are calling on the President of the Republic to show some wisdom, listen, and understand what is happening in the country and not promulgate this law,” the leader of the CGT union Ms. Sophie Binet commented.

“The fight continues and must gather force,” the leader of the hard-left La France Insoumise party Ms. Jean-Luc Melenchon posted on Twitter.

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