Millions take to the streets in France – that’s behind it Strack-Zimmermann dissides Friedrich Merz – who finds it anything but funny

The protest

Mass demonstrations and strikes broke out again in many French cities on Tuesday. Reason: French President Emmanuel Macron wants to raise the retirement age.

The French population disagrees: Surveys show that nearly two-thirds of French people oppose the reform project. That is why 750,000 people took to the streets yesterday – according to trade union CGT, there were even two million protesters across the country.

According to the Interior Ministry, 1.27 million people took part in strikes and protests last week – 2.8 million people, according to the CGT trade union. Even if these numbers vary widely, the mobilization is and remains massive.

The signs read “Let’s Save Our Retirement” or “Live Better/Older”. It was the largest demonstration against pension reform since former President Nicolas Sarkozy raised the retirement age from 60 to 62 in 2010.

The plan

At 62, the retirement age in France is lower than in most other European countries. Italy, Germany and Spain have already raised the retirement age to 67, compared to 66 in the UK.

Now the French government wants to gradually increase the regular retirement age from 62 to 64 years because the current system can no longer be financed in the long term. Official forecasts, which show deficits in the pension fund for the coming years, suggest that this needs to change. Macron and his government insist that raising the retirement age is necessary. In addition, the number of payment years required for a full pension must increase more rapidly. From 2027, you must have worked for 43 years instead of the previous 42 years to receive a full pension at age 64.

Even though the retirement age is now 62, retirement starts later on average: those who have not paid in long enough to be entitled to a full pension continue to work longer. At age 67, there will then be a pension with no deductions, regardless of how long it has been paid in – the government wants to keep this. She wants to increase the monthly minimum pension to around 1,200 euros. Previously this was 960 euros.

The reform also aims to abolish a number of individual systems with privileges for certain occupational groups. The unions find the reform unjust and cruel.

the objections

As Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT union, explained two weeks ago, pension reform generally penalizes lower income earners who have entered the labor market at a young age. Women are also not getting away with the new reform. Partly because of children, it is much more difficult for them to meet the new premium obligation of 43 years.

Zeit Online addressed some people at Tuesday’s protests. Among others with Vanessa Frosin, a 40-year-old bus driver. She strongly opposes raising the retirement age:

She is also one of those women who does not receive a full pension even at age 64. She will grow old poor.

Nurse Laurent Gleizes also protested. The 55-year-old works in intensive care, a job that is very physically demanding. Working longer hours is therefore becoming a problem in this industry, he laments:

Many would retire earlier and therefore go home with a lower pension.

Unaffected Privileges

But not all privileges will be abolished: actors in the Comédie Francaise – the classical French theater – are entitled to a lifelong pension after ten years of stage work. This ordinance dates back to 1680, when the theater was founded.

The situation is similar to the dancers of the Paris Opera. According to a regulation from 1689, they can retire at the age of 42. Stage workers in opera and theater can retire at age 57. These regulations remain untouched.

In addition, workers in occupations that are considered physically or mentally demanding also benefit from retirement benefits. With the new reform, however, only if a medical examination at the age of 61 shows that the person concerned is no longer able to work. In that case, they can take early retirement at the age of 62 with full pension rights. Authorized persons include, but are not limited to, police officers, prison guards and sewer cleaners. You used to be allowed to retire at 52.

This is how it goes

The French National Assembly has begun plenary deliberations on the center government’s planned pension reform. The discussion about the controversial project started on Monday afternoon in a heated atmosphere. Because Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt initially hardly spoke due to the unrest on the opposition benches, the meeting was interrupted for a few minutes shortly after it had started.

France’s left camp and right-wing nationalists reject the reform. More than 20,000 amendments were tabled for the plenary debate. The administration hopes to push through the reform with the votes of opposition Republicans. But there is still no majority.

It is also not clear how the confrontation between the trade unions and the government on the street will unfold. In addition to mass protests, the president and his government fear prolonged strikes, for example at transport companies or refineries, which could paralyze the country. Some unions have already spoken out in favor of extended strikes.

In view of this, there are now also doubters in the government faction. Republican MPs have also expressed reservations. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has now promised concessions to the Conservatives – for example with a view to early retirement if you start working earlier. (saw with material from the sda ​​and dpa news agencies)