Despite resistance, the government pushed through the plans two weeks in advance. It happened without the French parliament being able to vote on it. It caused even more frustration for many French people.

President Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne feared that their pension plan would not continue to vote. Their coalition has lost a majority in parliament since the last election.

This is why they bypassed Parliament with Article 49.3 of the Constitution, also known as the “nuclear option.” It is not prohibited and has been used a hundred times before. But not for such a controversial topic.

The French opposition was furious and presented my motion of no confidence in the government. One of these two proposals almost arrived. The opposition lost by nine votes to pass the motion and overthrow the government.

The opponents still have the option of organizing a referendum. But according to French historian and expert Nick Bass, there is no time for that. “This must be done in several installments and cannot be achieved so quickly before the announcement of the new pension law.”