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Strikes and protests from all sectors have begun in France against the pension reform proposed by the central government.

Demonstrations gathered in Nice, Marseille and Toulouse on Thursday morning, as video shows. Photos showed empty platforms in Paris and the media reported high school protests. According to reports, between 70 and 100 percent of TotalEnergies refinery workers took part in the strike. Electricity production must also be shut down.

Flights were canceled at Paris airports. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had asked airlines to cancel one of five flights at Paris-Orly airport on the day of the strike. Rail traffic was also severely restricted.

The government under President Emmanuel Macron wants to gradually increase the regular retirement age from 62 to 64 years. In addition, the number of payment years required for a full pension must increase more rapidly. A number of individual systems with privileges for certain professional groups will be abolished.

The retirement age in France is currently 62 years. In fact, however, the pension starts later on average: those who have not paid in long enough to be entitled to a full pension also continue to work longer. At the age of 67, the full pension entitlement applies regardless of how long you have contributed – the government wants to keep it that way. She wants to increase the monthly minimum pension to around 1,200 euros. People who started working very early or whose working conditions are exceptionally difficult should retire earlier.

Unions criticize the project as brutal and unfair. Massive criticism also comes from the French left and right nationalists. (aeg/sda/dpa)