Macron’s Reformist Legacy Tested as Pension Bill Reaches Endgame

  • Government says it won’t need to use decree to pass reform
  • Raising minimum retirement age is central to Macron’s agenda
Demonstrators during a national strike against plans to revamp the pension system, in Paris, in February.Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg
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Emmanuel Macron faces parliamentary brinkmanship and protests this week over his plan to raise the retirement age, with the potential for a politically bruising outcome that would shape the French president’s capacity to keep pushing a pro-business agenda.

The test begins on Wednesday as a group of 14 lawmakers from the National Assembly and Senate meets behind closed doors to finalize a single bill to be presented for a vote in both houses. At the same time, unions will gather their forces for another day of strikes and protests against the proposed changes.