French lawmakers pass pension reform as strikes and protests intensify

France’s National Assembly has approved a contentious pension reform that will gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, despite widespread opposition from unions, workers, and protesters. The measure is one of the most disputed domestic policies facing President Emmanuel Macron’s government and has triggered repeated demonstrations across the country.

The vote came as labor groups renewed strike action, arguing the changes will hit workers hardest while doing little to address deeper pressures on the pension system. Critics say the reform places the burden of fiscal adjustment on ordinary people, especially those in physically demanding jobs and lower-income sectors.

For the government, the bill is framed as a necessary step to keep the pension system financially sustainable as the population ages. But opponents see it as a political gamble that has deepened public anger and widened mistrust between Paris and much of the country.

The approval in the lower house does not end the controversy. Further political and legal battles are expected, while unions are likely to keep pressure on lawmakers through protests and strikes in the weeks ahead.