French Senate passes controversial pensions bill

Amid a wave of national protests, the French Senate has passed President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform bill that raises the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62. The upper house gave a final vote of approval on Friday to a bill so unpopular it has led to fuel blockades and riots.

Reuters

On Thursday, French unions called for fresh strikes on 28 October and 6 November.

Senators voted 177 for and 153 against the legislation to raise the retirement age, after the government used a special measure to speed the voting process.

Labour Minister Eric Woerth told France 2 television on Friday that the measure was not a strong-arm tactic but the “application of constitutional rules”.

“The day will come when our former adversaries will grateful,” he said.

The bill now needs a joint parliamentary commission to rubber stamp changes from the original text, and approval from the constitutional council, the highest constitutional authority in France.