Protests against pension reform in France escalate

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According to official figures, more than a million people took to the streets in France on Thursday against the controversial pension reform of President Emmanuel Macron (45). The Interior Ministry speaks of nearly 1.09 million demonstrators across the country. According to police, there were more than 119,000 in Paris alone. About 3.5 million people took part in the strikes and protests across the country, according to the CGT union.

Access to universities and high schools was blocked, oil depots were blocked. According to broadcaster BFMTV, at least one fuel is now missing at 15 percent of petrol stations in France. Trains and flights were canceled again. Some strikes in the garbage collection service, in the transport sector and at oil depots have been going on for weeks.

Fire, rubber shot, tear gas

There were also riots. Fires were lit in the streets. The police used violence against the demonstrators, with rubber bullets and tear gas. In Bordeaux, people set fire to the town hall. Videos of metres-high flames in the entrance area of ​​the building are circulating on the internet. The fire service was able to extinguish the fire, but the front door was badly damaged.

Numerous protesters and 234 police officers were reportedly injured. According to the unions, the next day of action against the pension reform is already planned: on March 28, there will be another demonstration across the country.

Raise the entry age from 62 to 64

Pension reform is considered one of President Macron’s most important projects. The government wants to gradually increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. In addition, the number of payment years required for a full pension must increase more rapidly. The aim is to avert an imminent funding shortfall in the pension fund. The unions find the project unfair and ruthless.

The retirement age in France is currently 62 years. In fact, retirement starts later on average: those who have not paid in long enough to receive a full pension continue to work longer. At age 67, there will then be a pension with no deductions, no matter how long it has collapsed – the government wants to keep this even if the number of years of collapse for a full pension increases more rapidly . She wants to increase the monthly minimum pension to around 1,200 euros.

The dispute escalated a week ago as Macron pushed the text through the National Assembly without a vote. Two motions of no confidence in the government failed on Monday evening. The reform has therefore succeeded. It is now under review by the Constitutional Council. It is still unclear when this decision will be made. Macron wants the reform to be implemented by the end of the year. (SDA/no)

Source: Blick