Meanwhile, strikes took place in schools, refineries and on the railways, which also affected rail traffic to Germany. 11,000 police and gendarmes were deployed across the country. Almost two weeks ago there were large protests against the planned increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Accompanied by music and protest chants, the demonstration in Paris began to move in the afternoon. Families with children, students and the elderly joined the protest. Although the government’s reform plans upset many people in France, sentiment remained good. “Let’s save our retirement” or “Live better/older” can be read on the signs.
The French government wants to gradually raise the normal retirement age from 62 to 64 because the current system will no longer be financially viable in the long run. In addition, the number of years of payment required for a full pension is expected to increase more rapidly. Various individual systems with privileges for certain professional groups will be abolished.
Currently, the retirement age is 62. In fact, retirement starts later on average: those who haven’t paid enough time to be entitled to full retirement work longer. At age 67 there will then be a pension without any deductions, irrespective of the time of payment – the government wants to keep it. He wants to increase the minimum monthly pension to around 1,200 euros.
Unions criticize the reform as “unfair and brutal”. According to the Interior Ministry, around 1.12 million people took part in the first major day of action nearly two weeks ago. The unions spoke of two million people. Turnout was slightly higher on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the reform project is already being analyzed by the responsible social commission of the National Assembly and will be discussed in plenary starting next week. With the support of conservative republicans, President Macron hopes for a majority there for what is probably the biggest project of his second term, but there are reservations among them.
It is also not clear how the confrontation between the unions and the government in the streets will continue. In addition to mass protests, the president and his government fear long-term strikes, for example at transport companies or refineries, which could bring the country to a standstill. Some unions have already spoken out in favor of extendable strikes. During Macron’s first term, there were strikes for weeks against his pension reform plan at the time. Finally, the renovation was delayed because of the pandemic.