"Super Obvious” sources of the pension reform timeline:
Jan 19, 2023
Nationwide protests begin against pension reform bill.
Borne government, CGT, other unions
Over 1 million (Ministry of Interior) to 2 million (unions) demonstrators nationwide
Start of sustained resistance.
[1][3][9]
Jan 30, 2023
Pension reform bill introduced to National Assembly.
Borne government
-
Legislative process begins.
[1]
Feb 14, 2023
Article 2 of draft law rejected by National Assembly.
National Assembly
-
Legislative setback for government.
[1]
Feb 17, 2023
Article 47-1 invoked to transmit bill to Senate.
Prime Minister Borne
Used to circumvent opposition amendments
Bill progresses despite obstruction.
[1]
Mar 11, 2023
Senate passes the bill.
Senate
195–112 vote in favor
Bill moves closer to final passage.
[1]
Mar 15, 2023
Joint Committee approves bill with amendments.
Joint Committee
10–4 vote in favor
Final parliamentary approval step.
[1]
Mar 16, 2023
Senate accepts committee's amendments.
Senate
193–114 vote in favor
Bill ready for final National Assembly consideration.
[1]
Mar 20, 2023
Prime Minister Borne invokes Article 49.3; two no-confidence motions filed and voted down.
Borne government, Opposition MPs
Widespread condemnation as undemocratic; Macron's approval ratings hit low
Bill passes into law without National Assembly vote.
[1][5]
Apr 14, 2023
Constitutional Council rules draft law constitutional; Macron signs bill into law.
Constitutional Council, President Macron
Legal challenge rejected
Reform officially enacted.
[1][9]
May 3, 2023
Constitutional Council rejects second referendum request.
Constitutional Council
-
Further attempts to reverse reform legally fail.
[1]
July 23, 2024
New Popular Front proposes to scrap pension reform.
La France Insoumise, National Rally
-
Ongoing political opposition to the reform.
[8] (for ongoing protests and opposition)
Apr 20, 2025
Government considers scrapping 10% tax deduction for retirees in 2026 budget.
French government
Pensioners' unions strongly oppose
New front in austerity measures.
[8] (for ongoing protest tracking)
Key sources:
Wikipedia's article on the 2023 French pension reform strikes provides a chronological overview of parliamentary maneuvers, protest dates, and legislative developments[1].
Major French and international media (Le Monde, Al Jazeera, TRT World) confirm protest turnout and union-government dynamics[3][7][11].
EPSU and European Sources Online cover union actions, legislative steps, and the Constitutional Council's rulings[2][4][6][9].
The Carnegie Endowment's Global Protest Tracker and Statista document ongoing protest activity and political opposition into 2024–2025[8][10].
Events from 2024–2025 (such as the New Popular Front's proposals and the 2025 tax deduction debate) are less widely covered in the provided search results, but the Global Protest Tracker[8] confirms ongoing opposition and protest activity related to pension and austerity policies.
Sources [1] 2023 French pension reform strikes - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_French_pension_reform_strikes [2] Massive turnout for second day of pension protests https://www.epsu.org/epsucob/2023-february-epsu-collective-bargaining-newsletter-no3/massive-turnout-second-day-pension [3] Pension reform: Over a million march in protest throughout France https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2023/01/19/french-strikes-against-pension-reform-bring-trains-buses-schools-to-close_6012131_5.html [4] 6 June for next anti-pension reform mobilisation https://www.epsu.org/epsucob/2023-may-epsu-collective-bargaining-newsletter-no10/6-june-next-anti-pension-reform [5] France Protests Test Government's Commitment to Rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/24/france-protests-test-governments-commitment-rights [6] Eleventh day of protests over pension reforms https://www.epsu.org/epsucob/2023-april-epsu-collective-bargaining-newsletter-no8/eleventh-day-protests-over-pension [7] Massive nationwide strike hits France over pension reform - Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/7/1-28m-people-protest-macrons-pension-reform-plan-ministry [8] Global Protest Tracker - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace https://carnegieendowment.org/features/global-protest-tracker [9] 2023 French pension reform protests - European Sources Online https://www.europeansources.info/record/2023-french-pension-reform-protests/ [10] Chart: The French Tradition of Protesting Pension Reforms - Statista https://www.statista.com/chart/29569/france-protests-against-pension-reform-timeline/ [11] Millions join protests in France over Macron's pension reform https://www.trtworld.com/europe/millions-join-protests-in-france-over-macron-s-pension-reform-65928 [12] Pension reform strikes: France faces disruption on second day of national protests https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2023/01/31/pension-reform-france-braces-for-strikes-on-second-day-of-national-protests_6013763_5.html [13] France prepares for 4th round of pension reform protests https://www.trtworld.com/europe/france-prepares-for-4th-round-of-pension-reform-protests-65345
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