٠٠:٠٢:٤١France: Protesters carry flaming torches, evoke French Revolution during latest pension reform demonstration
Thousands marched with torches through the streets of Paris on Thursday to protest against the pension reform.
Footage features rally participants carrying either lit torches or banners and flags of trade unions or parties such as the New Ecological and Social People's Union NUPES, as well as the New Anticapitalist Party. According to the activists, carrying torches in this manner symbolically started the French Revolution of 1789.
"All this, just before the famous July 14, 1789. I find that there is a perfume of 1789 at the moment and I found the symbolic action interesting," stated an official of the France Insoumise party Antoine Leaument.
In January, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, triggering huge protests. Reforms of the system were central to both his 2017 and 2022 campaigns.
"Pushing back the legal retirement age would mean that we will only be able to retire at 64, whereas today it is possible to retire at 62. So, it is impossible! The majority of the population is against it. We, teachers, are also strongly opposed to the reform. All the trade unions are also strongly opposed to the reform, to say that we do not agree to work two years longer," said another protester.
Ministers reportedly say the changes will balance the deficit in the system caused by longer life expectancy. The last reform, in 2011, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.
٠٠:٠٢:٤١Thousands marched with torches through the streets of Paris on Thursday to protest against the pension reform.
Footage features rally participants carrying either lit torches or banners and flags of trade unions or parties such as the New Ecological and Social People's Union NUPES, as well as the New Anticapitalist Party. According to the activists, carrying torches in this manner symbolically started the French Revolution of 1789.
"All this, just before the famous July 14, 1789. I find that there is a perfume of 1789 at the moment and I found the symbolic action interesting," stated an official of the France Insoumise party Antoine Leaument.
In January, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, triggering huge protests. Reforms of the system were central to both his 2017 and 2022 campaigns.
"Pushing back the legal retirement age would mean that we will only be able to retire at 64, whereas today it is possible to retire at 62. So, it is impossible! The majority of the population is against it. We, teachers, are also strongly opposed to the reform. All the trade unions are also strongly opposed to the reform, to say that we do not agree to work two years longer," said another protester.
Ministers reportedly say the changes will balance the deficit in the system caused by longer life expectancy. The last reform, in 2011, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.