French president uses special powers to impose pension age increase without parliamentary vote

France was brought to a 'standstill' by marches and strikes protesting a proposed raise of the retirement age and access to relevant benefits–a nationwide shutdown that appeared to have rattled lawmakers in advance of a vote in France's parliament. But it was no problem for president Emmanuel Macron, who skipped the vote at the last moment and used special powers to enact the bill instead. — Read the rest