Economy and finance Labour Pensions

Against pension reform

France, anger in the square: barricades in the center of Paris

To raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, the government circumvents the vote in Parliament. Angry opposition, spontaneous demonstrations in dozens of French cities. Street clashes with police in central Paris

17/03/2023

In the same hours in which opposition deputies sing the Marseillaise, whistle, beat on the benches, prevent Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne from speaking, it is the square that makes its voice heard loudest against the pension reform that raises the minimum age from 62 to 64 years.

The government's decision to skip the parliamentary passage - using a rule that allows a law to be passed without a vote but opening a question of confidence in the executive - only exacerbates the opposition and protest.

Yesterday, Thursday, the street protest gave rise to improvised demonstrations in dozens of French cities: in Paris thousands of people lit fires, threw smoke bombs and sang chants against the illuminated backdrop of the National Assembly. The police intervened to clear the square with tear gas and water cannons: in the streets of the capital it was chaos.

The unions and the leaders of the protest, perhaps never so united, announce a new day of mobilization for next Thursday.