France Publishes First Decrees Implementing Controversial Pension Reform

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The French government published the first two of the 31 decrees on Sunday that must be enacted by September for the widely unpopular pension reform to take effect.
Sputnik
The decrees, which appeared in the Official Journal, stipulate a gradual raise of retirement age from 62 to 64 years. The provision was pushed through parliament without a vote in March, despite huge street protests.
The pension reform brought more than a million into the streets of Paris at the height of debates in March, with nearly weekly strikes taking place nationwide. Hundreds of thousands are expected to demand that the reform be repealed at a rally on Tuesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron has argued that the pension system needed to be overhauled to reduce the mounting burden on public finances.