On June 5, 2023, the French National Assembly held a significant vote where lawmakers approved a resolution proposed by Stéphane Peu, a Communist Party deputy, calling for the repeal of the pension reform implemented in 2023. The resolution garnered 198 votes in favor and only 35 against, with 233 deputies participating in the vote.

This outcome was influenced by a strong presence of left-wing members compared to minimal attendance from central bloc deputies opposed to the measure.

The vote coincided with ongoing mobilizations led by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) advocating for pensions, employment, and salaries.

This was part of a larger context involving a 'conclave' facilitated by François Bayrou, where discussions with three unions are reaching their final stages.

The Communist Party sought to emphasize the 'imperative need' for repealing the pension reform.

This marked the first occasion for deputies to vote on the pension reform, which was enacted through the controversial 49.3 procedure in Spring 2023, extending the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

Additionally, the reform stipulates a contribution period of 43 years by 2027 to qualify for a full pension for individuals born in 1965. Previously, a cross-party censure motion against the government related to this reform had been narrowly rejected by just nine votes.

Subsequent attempts to revisit the pension reform have met with failure.

In late 2024, the National Rally attempted to propose a bill with less content aimed at repealing the reform, but it did not succeed.

La France Insoumise also aimed to reinstate the retirement age at 62 in November; however, their proposal was obstructed by the central-right bloc, preventing a timely vote.

While discussions surrounding this non-legislative resolution were possible, parliamentary tools were utilized to stall earlier proceedings.

No amendments were permissible to the resolution due to its lack of legislative weight, which contributed to the typical pre-vote tensions.

Mathilde Panot of La France Insoumise remarked on the void in representation from the central bloc during the vote.

Alongside, François Ruffin from the Ecologist and Social Group criticized the reform for neglecting the hardships faced by workers, contrasting their plight with that of financiers and shareholders.

Consistent with expectations, the National Rally supported the resolution.

However, its spokesperson Theo Bernhardt remarked to the public that they could rely on Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella to effectively repeal the reform.

During the vote, the National Rally had a lesser presence with only 41 of its 123 deputies present, and the party's position on pensions during the upcoming legislative elections remained ambiguous.

The vote also signified a message from the Communists aimed at the government regarding adherence to democratic principles outlined in the Constitution.

Stéphane Peu voiced that the government must heed the Assembly's vote and outlined two potential paths for the executive: repeal the implementation decrees that extend the retirement age and duration of contributions, or conduct a citizen referendum.

Otherwise, he implied a motion of censure would be initiated.

In contrast, Thibault Bazin of the Republican Right dismissed the resolution as ineffective, labeling the notion of reverting changes to the retirement age as a fallacy.

The Minister of Labor, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, expressed that the adoption of this resolution would represent a 'motion of distrust' against the unions still involved in discussions.

She reiterated that the vote's outcome could not be used in opposition to the decisions made in March 2023.