Court in France approves contentious plans to raise retirement age

By Billy Rogers 08/11/20

Controversial plans to raise the retirement age in France have been approved by the country's highest constitutional court, according to French media.

France's Constitutional Council has ruled in favor of the government's reforms, which will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64,

The plans sparked widespread protests after Emmanuel Macron's government invoked Article 49.3 to push the changes through without a vote by MPs last month. 

France's official retirement age is 62 - much lower than many of its European neighbours. In the UK it is 66, Germany and Italy 67 and Spain 65.

Mr Macron has described the changes as a "necessity" to salvage a French pensions system which he says is unsustainable in its current form. 

France's Constitutional Council has ruled in favour of the government's reforms, which will raise the pension age from 62 to 64