Constitutional Council To Rule On Pension Reform 14 April

The French Conseil constitutionnel (Constitutional Council) will rule on the validity of President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms on 14 April. The reforms were pushed through without a vote in the National Assembly using the Article 49.3 mechanism of the French constitution, sparking major protests across the nation.

• The Constitutional Council is formed by nine sitting members, generally senior legal and political figures, as well as former presidents if they so choose. The current membership includes former Prime Ministers Laurent Fabius and Alain Juppe. Members are expected to deliver verdicts in a nonpartisan manner.
• Given that the gov't immediately asked the Council to review the text of the reform, and has stated that "all the points raised during the debates can be examined", this would seem to indicate that it is confident the Council will not block the reforms.
• Last week Macron stated that he would hold off on talking to trade unions on the matter until the Council had delivered is ruling. Stated that "I have indicated our availability to move forward on issues such as professional decline, the end of careers, retraining, career development, working conditions, and remuneration in certain sectors," once the decision is in.