Although significantly fewer people are now taking part in strikes and demonstrations than at the height of the protests, the planned pension reform in France is once again driving people onto the streets.
With another day of protests against the controversial pension reform, France’s trade unions have once again expressed their displeasure. However, the head of the CFDT union, Laurent Berger, announced at the beginning of the actions on the Europe 1 station that this would be “one of the last days of action” against President Emmanuel Macron’s plan. The resistance will probably continue in a different way. “The match is over,” said Berger.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, a good 280,000 people took part in strikes and demonstrations in various cities, significantly fewer than at the height of the protests, as reported by the French media. The CGT union spoke of more than 900,000 demonstrators. Occasionally there were riots during the protests.
The reform to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years has now been passed after a long back and forth. It’s supposed to take hold in September. On Thursday, the opposition wants to try to reverse the increase – without much chance of success. Macron and his middle government want to prevent an impending hole in the pension fund with the reform. The deposit period for a full pension will increase faster.
The retirement age in France is currently 62 years. In fact, retirement is already starting later: those who have not paid in long enough to receive a full pension work longer. At the age of 67 there is then a pension without deduction, regardless of how long it has been paid in. For months there had been strikes and protests, some of them violent. On Tuesday, the head of the CGT union, Sophie Binet, warned: “Nothing will be the same again if he (Macron) decides to stick to this reform.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
