France’s National Assembly has approved a measure to restore the retirement age to 64, moving to undo part of the 2023 pension reform. The vote passed by a narrow margin after weeks of strikes and demonstrations that have brought workers, unions and opposition parties back into the streets.

The decision is likely to deepen public anger over pension policy, which has become one of the country’s most divisive domestic issues. Critics argue the change would place a heavier burden on workers already facing high living costs and job insecurity, while supporters say the system needs adjustment to remain financially sustainable.

The parliamentary move comes after sustained pressure from labor groups and activists who have framed the reform as an attack on social protections. Protest organizers have also warned that forcing people to work longer could hit lower-income workers hardest, especially those in physically demanding jobs.

With the legislation now advancing, tensions are expected to remain high in the days ahead. The dispute has once again exposed a widening gap between the government’s fiscal goals and widespread public resistance to raising the retirement age.