Protests continue in France against pension reform

In France, there have been new large-scale demonstrations against President Macron’s plans to reform the pension system. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country, about 1.28 million people took part in them. The largest trade union association CGT announced 3.5 million demonstrators across the country and about 700 thousand people who took to the streets of Paris.

During the actions on March 7, 80% of trains were canceled in France, public transport was disrupted in the capital and other large cities, and lessons were canceled in many schools. The demonstrators also blocked the supply of fuel to all the country’s oil refineries.

The government proposes to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years and increase the minimum period for employee contributions to the pension fund to 43 years. At the same time, the amount of the minimum pension should increase to 1,200 euros per month. Opponents of the reform consider the government’s plans to be unreasonably harsh. According to polls, two-thirds of French people oppose the proposed changes.

Trade unions promise new protests already on March 11 in order to paralyze the entire country. The bill will be considered in the Senate until March 12, after which it will return to the National Assembly for a final vote. During a protest in Paris, protesters clashed with the police, as a result of which 43 people were detained. Similar skirmishes took place in other cities such as Nantes, Rennes and Lyon.