French Government Overcomes No-Confidence Vote and Pushes Through Controversial Pension Reforms

Two no-confidence votes against French President Emmanuel Macron’s government have failed in the country’s parliament, clearing the way for his hugely unpopular pension reforms to be implemented. The government triggered special constitutional powers last Thursday to push through the controversial legislation to raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64 for most workers, sparking a wave of protests and strikes across the country. The move has been widely condemned by protesters and lawmakers as undemocratic.