Despite objections, France's CGT union elects its first female leader

France's CGT trade union federation has elected Sophie Binet as secretary general, making her the first woman to hold the post since the body's creation in 1895. Binet is the head of a member union representing middle managers and is the first woman to hold the post since the body's creation in 1895. Binet's election means incumbent Philippe Martinez has failed to impose a successor despite months on the front lines of the ongoing protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms. Binet's election comes days before union leaders' meeting with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, whose move to ram Macron's pension reforms through parliament without a vote has ratcheted up tensions. Opponents of the pension reform, which would increase the minimum retirement age to 64, still hope France's Constitutional Council will block it in a decision slated for April 14.