Widespread protests have gripped the French capital following the increasing of the pension age to 64.
French unions’ calls for a “tidal wave” of protests following the raising of the pension age have been answered, with thousands taking to the streets of Paris to demonstrate against the decision.
President Emmanuel Macron signed the controversial pension reform into law on Friday, with unions accusing him of showing “contempt” to the wishes of the French public.
The changes to the pension age became law in the early hours of the morning on Friday, prior to their publication by France’s Constitutional Council, resulting in political opponents accusing Mr. Macron of trying to usher in the new policy unnoticed.
The changes in legislation will see the official pension age in France rise by two years, from 62 to 64.
On top of this weekend’s showing of anger in the French capital, unions have also called for mass Labour Day protests on May 1st.
Left-wing politician Francois Ruffin has described Macron’s new pension plan as a “democratic hold-up”, and has also called the French President a “thief of life who showed an absurd display of arrogance”.
The reforms have been introduced out of economic necessity, according to Mr. Macron, who said that they were “necessary” to avoid annual pension deficits in the country hitting €13.5 billion by 2030, a fiscal possibility which was untenable in his eyes.
In the wake of pushing through his pension reforms, President Macron now finds his approval ratings hovering around 20%, with polls also showing that two in three French people are against working an additional two years.
Despite the age increase, France still lags behind the majority of its European neighbours, who have mostly set the age of retirement at 65 or above.
At present in Ireland, the pension age sits at 66, but a report conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year recommended to the coalition government that an increase to the age of 68 would be required by 2028.
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