Thousands again demonstrated in Paris against the government’s pension reforms. Protesters gathered at Place de la Republique yesterday. Media reported a heated atmosphere and tear gas could be seen in photos. Police told Le Parisien newspaper that protesters attacked emergency services.
For days now, people have taken to the streets in France every night to protest pension reform and the government’s crackdown on the legislative process. Last Thursday, the government decided at the last minute to take the bill forward without a vote in the National Assembly. With the failure of two no-confidence motions, the reform was officially approved. Spontaneous demonstrations repeatedly resulted in riots.
gradual increase
In order to close the looming pension fund gap, France’s central government under President Emmanuel Macron wants to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. In fact, on average, retirement begins after the official age of 62. Those who didn’t pay long enough to get a full pension work longer. At age 67, there is then a pension without any deductions, regardless of the time of payment – the government wants to keep it that way, even if the number of years required for full pension payments is less and increases faster. He wants to increase the minimum monthly pension to around 1,200 euros.
Macron plans TV speech
French right-wing populist Marine Le Pen has accused Macron of risking a “social explosion” in the country with his controversial reform. “The government is consciously creating all the conditions for a social explosion,” Le Pen told the AFP news agency in an interview. But you will not help put out “the fire” of angry protests.
Macron himself wants to address the population today. The Élysée Palace announced that he would be interviewed live on the midday news for half an hour.