French Senate passes pensions bill

Описание

<p> The French Senate has passed a massively unpopular bill lifting the age of retirement to 62 from 60 despite bitter opposition. </p><p> Politicians voted 177 to 153 in favor of the legislation after using a special measure to speed up the process after weeks of unrest. </p><p> The country's powerful unions have vowed to step up protests in response to the vote. </p><p> Demonstrators brought parts of France to a virtual halt in a series of demonstrations against pension reform but in the end, the protests seemed to fall on deaf ears. </p><p> Labour Minister Eric Woerth said: The French retirement system must evolve, and if it doesn't evolve, this retirement system cannot last. </p><p> We won't be able to afford French people's pensions and the vote of the National Assembly, as the vote of the Senate, obtained after more than 150 hours of debate, a very detailed debate - we went to the bottom of all the topics - allows us to say, democracy has spoken. </p><p> Workers at the Grandpuits oil refinery, which has become a symbol in the protest, welcome a court ruling saying a government order to requisition workers is unlawful. </p>