The French constitutional court on Friday approved the key elements of President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reform, while rejecting certain parts of the legislation.

Protesters gather on the square of the Capitole de Toulouse duringa demonstration after the court approved the key elements on FrenchPresident s unpopular pension reform, in Toulouse, southwestern France, onApril 14, 2023. AFP

The banner reform in the legislation to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 was validated by the Constitutional Council after almost three months of protests opposing the measure.

The court struck out six measures not seen as fundamental to the essence of the reform and threw out a request filed by the left for a referendum on an alternative pension law that would keep the retirement age at 62.

This article was originally published by Agence France-Presse (AFP).