03:27France: 'They live on another planet' - Clashes erupt in Paris as protesters rally against pension reforms
Clashes erupted on the streets of Paris on Tuesday, as anti-government protesters rallied in the French capital against the Macron government’s pension reforms.
Footage shows police officers dressed in full riot gear making arrests and using tear gas to disperse the demonstration. Meanwhile, protesters are seen setting fire to bins and damaging public property.
"People live longer but often in poor health, so to bring the retirement age so far forward is completely irresponsible,” a protester said.
"So, today is the time to protest and tell all the government representatives that they live on another planet," he added.
Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, triggering huge protests across the country.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne confirmed that under the proposal, the minimum age to be eligible for a full pension will increase gradually by three months every year.
Ministers 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.
France, along with a handful of other EU countries, currently has the lowest pension age in Europe.
03:27Clashes erupted on the streets of Paris on Tuesday, as anti-government protesters rallied in the French capital against the Macron government’s pension reforms.
Footage shows police officers dressed in full riot gear making arrests and using tear gas to disperse the demonstration. Meanwhile, protesters are seen setting fire to bins and damaging public property.
"People live longer but often in poor health, so to bring the retirement age so far forward is completely irresponsible,” a protester said.
"So, today is the time to protest and tell all the government representatives that they live on another planet," he added.
Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, triggering huge protests across the country.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne confirmed that under the proposal, the minimum age to be eligible for a full pension will increase gradually by three months every year.
Ministers 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.
France, along with a handful of other EU countries, currently has the lowest pension age in Europe.