French MP says bill against unpopular pension reform admissible in parliament

By Gizem Taskin Nicollet

PARIS (AA) - Eric Coquerel, chairman of the French National Assembly's Finance Committee, said Tuesday that repealing the country's pension reform is possible.

"I have decided to deem it admissible," said Coquerel during a press conference in Paris.

The centrist opposition group LIOT proposed a bill in parliament to repeal the pension reform which has caused weeks of protests and unrest across France.

However, earlier on Tuesday, Yael Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, told France 2 that "the bill poses a real difficulty in terms of admissibility since it contravenes the famous article 40 of the constitution."

Braun-Pivet assured that she would “take any responsibility” to prevent the vote on the bill, which is scheduled on June 8.

Before the two steps, Coquerel must first decide on its admissibility.

President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance parliamentary group denounced Coquerel's decision on Tuesday, describing it as "partisan and political" in a press release on Twitter, adding that it is "a serious attack on our institution."

As per Article 40 of the French constitution, any proposals or amendments made by parliamentarians that would decrease revenue or increase public expenses are not permitted.

In their proposed bill, the LIOT group suggests an extra tax on tobacco products as a solution to compensate for the financial shortfall caused by the cancellation of the pension reform.

Coquerel had previously clarified his position in an article published in Le Monde on Monday, stating that "those who argue about respecting the constitution regarding Article 40 are undermining a more significant constitutional right: the right of opposition. I would like to remind everyone that no democracy can function without political pluralism."

French trade unions are planning a nationwide day of protests against the pension reform on June 6, just two days before the bill is examined by members of parliament.

Macron’s unpopular pension reform, which caused weeks of protests in France, aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.