France pension reform verdict Updates: Court approves key elements of Macron's proposed plan; protests continue

National Rally (RN) figurehead Marine Le Pen tweeted on Friday that the fate of French President Emmanuel Macron's  pension reform is "not sealed," despite the constitutional court approving key elements of the legislation. 

Riot police in Paris jostled with protesters as French President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform received the Constitutional Council's approval. 

"The Constitutional Council has ruled...that the reform is in line with our constitution. The text arrives at the end of its democractic proces. Tonight there is no winner, no loser," Borne said on Twitter.

Separately, the opposition's suggestion to hold a public referendum on the pension reform was denied by the Constitutional Council.

Another referendum proposal from the opposition has been submitted, and the Council will likely evaluate it in early May.

The leader of France's hard left, Jean-Luc Melenchon, pledged on Friday that the opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform will persist even after the most important amendments were upheld by the country's highest court. 

"The fight continues and must gather force," the leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party said on Twitter. Far-right National Rally (RN) figurehead Marine Le Pen added that the fate of the reform was "not sealed" despite the decision.

The controversial pension reform proposed by President Emmanuel Macron was given the thumbs-up by the French Constitutional Court on Friday, although several provisions were disallowed, as reported by AFP.

After nearly three months of protests against the plan, the Constitutional Council approved the major amendment in the legislation to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Six elements that were not deemed essential to the reform's core were rejected by the court, and the left's desire for a referendum on a different pension law that would maintain the retirement age at 62 was also rejected.