France Pension Protests: Clashes After Macron Orders Rise In Pension Age Without Vote | English News

Fires burned on the streets of Paris on Thursday (March 16) night as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters following the introduction of an unpopular pensions bill in the French National Assembly.

At least one car was burning, along with piles of rubbish and debris, in the streets near the Place de la Concorde. Some protesters were seen throwing cobble stones and shooting flares at police where local media reported at least 217 people were arrested, according to authorities.

The demonstration was across the river Seine from parliament, where Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne earlier on Thursday announced her government would push through the reform using a special constitution clause.

The move will ensure the bill raising the retirement age by two years to 64 is adopted after weeks of protests and fractious debate.

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In recent weeks, France has seen a surge of protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s order to increase the retirement age in the country. The move has met with widespread opposition from workers, who fear that it will worsen their already precarious financial situation. The protests have escalated in recent days, with clashes between police and protesters in several cities across the country.

The French pension system is one of the most generous in the world, but it is also one of the most expensive. Macron’s reforms are aimed at reducing the deficit in the pension system, which is currently running at a deficit of over €10 billion a year. The president’s plan is to gradually increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 over the next five years.

The decision to implement the reforms without a vote in parliament has angered many workers, who see it as undemocratic. Trade unions have called for a general strike on December 5, which is expected to disrupt public transport, schools, hospitals and other public services across the country.

The protests have been most intense in the capital, Paris, where riot police have clashed with protesters in several areas of the city. Banks, shops and cafes have been vandalized, and some protesters have set fire to cars and trash cans. Police have responded with tear gas, water cannon and baton charges, and over 400 people have been arrested.

The protesters come from a broad spectrum of French society, including teachers, bus drivers, hospital staff and construction workers. They are demanding that the government abandon its plans to increase the retirement age and instead find other ways to balance the books.

There are fears that the protests could escalate further, as the government has shown no signs of backing down. Macron has called for calm and urged the protesters to engage in dialogue with his government. However, this approach has been rejected by the trade unions, who are demanding that the government withdraw the reforms and start consultations with workers.

The protests are a major challenge for Macron, who has been trying to push through a series of reforms since he came to power in 2017. His popularity has been declining in recent months, and the pension protests are likely to further erode his support.

The situation in France is a reminder of the fragility of social peace in Europe, and the challenges that governments face in trying to balance the interests of workers and taxpayers. It remains to be seen how the situation in France will evolve, but for the moment, tensions are high and the protests show no signs of abating.