PARIS, Feb 1 (NNN-XINHUA) – French unions, yesterday called for two more days of strike action, on Feb 7 and 11, to try to force the government to retract its pension reform plan, announced earlier this month.
The French Interior Ministry said that, more than 1.2 million people took to the streets across France yesterday, to express their anger against the controversial reform, that will force employees to work until they are 64.
However, the CGT, France’s largest union, said that, 2.8 million people marched yesterday, during the second day of general mobilisation.
In the country’s major cities, local authorities also registered more demonstrators than on Jan 19. In Marseille, the Prefecture reported 40,000 demonstrators, compared to 26,000 on Jan 19.
According to French daily, Le Figaro, clashes took place between some demonstrators and police in Paris, and tear gas and smoke bombs were fired.
Police confirmed that 23 people were arrested during the demonstration in Paris, for attacking security forces.
French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, said on social media that, she had heard the “questions and doubts” of those who reject the reform.
However, while speaking on TV channel, France 2, the country’s Minister of Public Action and Accounts, Gabriel Attal, ruled out suspending the pension reform project.
“If we do nothing, we will have a big problem paying pensions in the years to come. There will be 20 million pensioners to pay,” he said.
At the end of the demonstration last night, the CGT announced its intention to continue strikes at refineries on Feb 6, 7 and 8.
This could cause production to halt at certain sites, Eric Sellini, coordinator for TotalEnergies, told Le Figaro.
On Jan 10, Elisabeth Borne laid out details of the pension reform plan, which would progressively raise the legal retirement age by three months a year from 62 to 64 years by 2030, and put in place a guaranteed minimum pension.
Starting in 2027, people would have to work for 43 years to qualify for a full pension.– NNN-XINHUA
