The French president proceeded with publishing the text, moving ahead even as the last formal checks were still in progress. In the early hours, around four o’clock, the document appeared in the Official Journal of the Republic, and by the next morning it had been officially recorded. Once fully validated, the legislation is slated to take effect from September, gradually applying to those born after 1961 as the measure unfolds.
Alongside the street unrest, Paris reported numerous arrests while Rennes saw clashes, and the president’s swift course of action drew strong responses from unions and left-wing groups. Protests and coordinated strikes against the reform have persisted for weeks, elevating tensions around public demonstrations and actions at workplaces.
Public sentiment on social media revealed a clearly divided climate. A leading left-leaning voice labeled the move as a coercive signal that could cut two years of potential freedom from workers overnight, portraying it as an intrusion on workers’ rights. The leader of the French left signaled that resisting the measure had become a point of pride and resolve, using the platform to mobilize supporters around the cause.
Inside the labor movement, the CFDT union, in collaboration with the CGT, stated that they would continue to express concerns, even as an invitation extended to the Elysee for further talks next Tuesday was declined. The union federation emphasized the breadth of anger among workers and signaled that mobilizations and demonstrations would persist as the reform debate moves forward. They stressed the objective of ensuring that regional and national voices are heard throughout the process, even as officials outline the next steps for reform. (citation: Reuters)