French government wants to raise retirement age to 64. State of affairs meat grinder Bachmut and Soledar

With a controversial reform, the French government wants to gradually raise the retirement age by two years to 64 years. As Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne said in Paris on Tuesday night, the age limit should be raised by three months every year and reach 64 in 2030. There should be exceptions, for example for people with health problems and an early start in working life. She described the plan of the center government under head of state Emmanuel Macron as one for balance, justice and social progress.

The retirement age in France is currently 62 years. Those who have not paid in long enough at that age to be entitled to a full pension can sometimes work longer. At the age of 67, the full pension entitlement applies regardless of the benefit period – the government wants to keep it, but the number of benefit years required for this is increasing faster than previously planned.

In France, individual pension plans with privileges exist for some occupational groups. Borne announced that he wanted to do away with most of them. The cabinet wants to increase the minimum pension to around 1,200 euros per month.

The government justified its action with the fact that the French pension system is not financed in the long term. Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said the current system would run into a deficit of €13.5 billion by 2030.

During his first term in office, President Macron wanted to reform the pension system. For months, people demonstrated against his flagship project. The reform passed parliament, but was postponed due to the corona pandemic.

To ensure that the reform does not fail a second time, Macron and the government must fight on two fronts. In the National Assembly, in which they no longer have an absolute majority since the parliamentary elections in June, they hope for the approval of the conservatives. At the same time, massive protests could threaten again. (sda/dpa)