France: Hundreds of thousands want to demonstrate against pension reform

In France, hundreds of thousands of people are expected across the country on Saturday who want to demonstrate against President Emmanuel Macron’s planned pension reform. For the fourth time, unions are mobilizing against the government’s plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. On two occasions, more than a million people have taken to the streets and there have been nationwide strikes. Last Tuesday, 750,000 participants were counted in protests. A turbulent debate has been going on in Parliament for a week about the controversial reform.

Many people in France are already working beyond the age of 62 if they have not paid long enough to earn a full pension when they reach retirement age. In many strenuous occupations, people could hardly work longer, say opponents of the reform. In addition, the employees wanted to be able to enjoy their well-deserved pension and not completely wear out their health on the job.

Macron: Looming pension fund deficit

Macron justifies the reform with an impending deficit in the pension fund. Because the population is getting older, the employees would have to pay for an increasing number of pensioners with their contributions. In order for the amount of the pension to be kept stable, the population would have to work a little more. The critics question the government’s calculations and say the state must find other sources of funding to keep the pension system in balance.

But the government doesn’t just want to tighten the retirement age. The increase in the necessary payment period for a full pension, which was decided years ago, is to be accelerated. In addition, individual pension systems with privileges for certain occupational groups are to be abolished. The minimum pension is to rise to around 1,200 euros.

Pension reform is considered one of President Macron’s most important projects. During the corona pandemic, a first attempt to implement the reform was aborted, even then there were massive protests and strikes. A number of presidents before Macron had tried to reform the French pension system with varying degrees of success – widespread protests and strikes were certain.

With Macron’s camp no longer enjoying an absolute majority in parliament, it hopes to push the reform through with the help of conservative Républicains, who have announced support. But some of the MPs – even from Macron’s group – still have reservations. And Macron’s fear of crippling strikes is likely to be even greater than the fear of a tight vote at the moment. Ahead of the renewed demonstrations on Saturday, the President said he could count on the sense of responsibility of the organizers to ensure that they passed calmly and did not lead to a blockade of the country.