The pension changes proposed by President Emmanuel Macron – the fourth reform in twenty years and which in this case will push the retirement age back from 62 to 64 - will leave no one better off. The demonstrators who have taken to the streets on January 19th and January 31st have fully grasped that point, say Mediapart's Stéphane Alliès, Carine Fouteau and Dan Israel in this op-ed article. They argue that the stubbornness shown by the government, which looks set to force the reforms through the French Parliament, represents a danger to democracy.
On January 10th, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne formally unveiled President Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform the pension system, the key plank of which is to raise the legal age of retirement in France from 62 to 64 by 2030. Almost immediately trade unions announced a day of strikes and protest on January 19th. Meanwhile prominent figures on the French Left attended a political meeting arranged by independent media Reporterre and 'Fakir', to demonstrate their anger towards the reforms. As Mathieu Dejean reports, the need for unity was a theme of the evening, with calls for the Left to remain united against the proposals – and on other issues – heavily applauded by the audience.
Long-delayed pension overhaul pushes the retirement age to 64, a move opposed by four in every five citizens according to an Odoxa poll, at a time when many are already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Prime minister Élisabeth Borne is to detail on Tuesday plans to make the French work longer, most likely by raising the retirement age to 64 or 65 from 62 currently.
President Emmanuel Macron has made clear the French will have to work longer, with the legal retirement age potentially pushed by as much as three years to 65.
A nationwide day of action called by one of France's major cross-trades unions, the CGT, in support of pay rises and against President Emmanuel Macron's announced plan to raise the retirement age on full benefits from 62 to 65, drew a turnout of 250,000 marchers according to organisers, and around half of that total according to the interior ministry.
Emmanuel Macron, seeking re-election in a final round of presidential elections in less than two weeks, has said he is ready to compromise his pledged agenda for raising the age of retirement on full pension rights to 65, a reform he put on hold in face of strong opposition during his five-year presidency.
Meanwhile ministers inched towards a deal with one labour union to try to end some of the longest public sector strikes in the country’s postwar history.
In the traditional presidential end-of-year TV address to the public, Macron said he hoped for a 'quick compromise' with union leaders demanding he abandon the plan.
The CFDT union is opposed to transport strikes over Christmas period but will call for new actions in January if the government does not drop a key pension reform proposal.
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