Nationwide Protests against Pension Reform Continue in France (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Thousands of protesters took to the streets of several cities in France on Thursday, as part of nationwide strikes against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform.
Demonstrations have been ongoing since January, and have intensified since the Macron government decided to bypass a vote in the National Assembly and force through the plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, as well as extend the required employment period for a worker to receive a full pension to 43 years.
Riot police were seen clearing Place d’Italie in Paris, where protesters set barricades on fire at the end of the demonstration. Similar scenes played out in Nantes, Lyon, and Strasbourg, where protesters clashed with police, vandalised street furniture, and set objects on fire.
The French Constitutional Council, which has the authority to annul part or all of the legislation, will rule on the reform on April 14.
The protests involve workers from a variety of industries, including transportation, energy, and education. Negotiations between the government and French unions have hit an impasse, further fueling the unrest.
Protesters argue that the pension reform is unfair and creates inequalities, and that it is part of a larger political project that perpetuates injustice.