France constitutional body to decide on pension reform

France's Constitutional Council on Friday was set to decide the fate of the government's pension reform plan. French President Emmanuel Macron has put forward the bill which aims to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64.

The Constitutional Council now has the task of deciding whether to greenlight the bill after Macron’s government forced it through parliament without a vote, using a special constitutional power.The council, whose role is to make sure laws are in line with France’s Constitution prior to enactment, has the power to reject the text, fully or partially.

The council is currently composed of three women and six men aged between 64 and 77, and is headed by former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.The council’s discussions and votes are not made public.