PARIS (AP) - France's National Assembly has approved a broad retirement reform plan including a highly contested measure to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62.
The Lower House of Parliament voted 329-233 to pass the broad retirement package Wednesday. It clears a crucial first legislative hurdle and sends the bill on to the Senate.
The vote followed a boisterous overnight session on one of the pillars of conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy's reform agenda and a prime target of France's powerful unions.
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