Security in Paris for the first decisive decision on the constitutionality of divisive changes to the French presidential pension system: CNN’s first experience with Paris

Heightened security is in place in the French capital Paris as the country braces for a crucial ruling on the constitutionality of divisive changes to France’s pension system.

The Constitutional Council in Paris, France’s equivalent of the US supreme court, is barricaded ahead of a decision which could raise France’s retirement age from 62 to 64.

An expert in French constitutional law told CNN the police operation to protect the court is unprecedented. She said that she had never seen images like this before.

In the last 12 months, major services have been paralyzed across the country because of protests against the proposal by the French President. Uncollected garbage has mounted in the streets of Paris.

The Twelve Days of March Against the Macron-Macron Retirement Measures and Their Impact on the Paris-Like LVMH Headquarters

Friday’s ruling could lead to a number of outcomes. The law will take effect in September if it is green-lit. The first retirees will have to wait an additional three months for their state pensions. The retirement age will reach 64 by the year 2030 with regular increases.

If the court finds that the law in unconstitutional, it cannot be enacted. This is unlikely and will not cause a political earthquake forMacron’s government who used special constitutional powers to push through the legislation.

Macron has argued that the reforms are essential to rein in public finances, and has been standing firm, this week saying “the country must continue to move forward.”

On Thursday was the twelfth day of protests against the proposals. The turnout of 380,000 was less than that of the previous protests but hundreds of thousands still took to the streets.

Some protesters in Paris forced their way into the headquarters of luxury giant LVMH, with one union leader telling CNN, “if Macron wants to find money to finance the pension system, he should come here to find it.”

France is bucking the norm and moving towards 67 when it comes to retirement ages, even though its new age will still be below Europe and many other developed economies, where full pension benefits apply at 65.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, the retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born. Current legislation envisages a further rise from 67 to 68 in Britain between 2044 and 2046 (although the timing of this increase is being reviewed and could change).

The most controversial part of the new law is the gradual increase of the retirement age, which the Constitutional Council struck down.

The unpopularity of the new law has hurt the approval ratings of the president and made it difficult for him to win the support of the people.

As part of the ruling, the Constitutional Council also refused a first request by opposition lawmakers to hold a referendum on the reform. A last-minute second request put forward Thursday to hold a referendum on the reform remains under consideration.

Marine Le Pen urged people who oppose the changes to vote for her in the next election, while far- left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the decision showed the council is more attentive to the needs of the presidential monarchy.