Constitutional Council Approves Macron’s Controversial Plan to Raise Retirement Age to 64, Sparking Outrage from Unions and Protesters

France’s Constitutional Council has approved a controversial plan to raise the retirement age to 64, a major victory for President Emmanuel Macron after months of mass protests.

The council rejected some other measures in the pension bill, but the higher age was central to Macron’s plan and the target of protesters’ anger. The move is likely to enrage unions and other opponents of the pension plan, including protesters gathered in spots around France on Friday evening as the decision came down.

The decision to raise the retirement age has been met with strong opposition from unions and other groups, who have held mass protests in recent months. The right to retire on a full pension at 62 is deeply cherished in France, and the government’s plan has been met with widespread criticism.

The Constitutional Council’s decision is a major victory for Macron, who has been facing increasing pressure from the public to reverse his plans. The council’s ruling is likely to further anger protesters, who have already clashed with police in recent weeks.

The pension reform plan is part of Macron’s broader agenda of economic reforms, which have been met with strong resistance from unions and other groups. It remains to be seen how the public will respond to the council’s ruling, and whether the protests will continue in the coming weeks.