02:38France: Lyon police fire tear gas, deploy water cannons against pension reform protesters
Police officers used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in Lyon on Tuesday as thousands took to the streets to protest against new pension reforms.
Footage shows several demonstrators throwing objects and rocks at police officers, who used water cannons installed on the top of police cars to disperse the protesters. The video also highlights a police officer kicking one of the protesters while he was on the ground.
According to local media, between 25,000 and 50,000 people were part of today’s demonstration in Lyon.
France has seen a large scale of strikes organised by workers’ unions since January, following the government’s plan to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030.
Ministers reportedly say the changes will balance the deficit in the system caused by longer life expectancy.
France, along with a handful of other EU countries, has the lowest pension age in Europe, spending nearly 14 percent of its economic output on them.
The last reform, in 2011, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.
02:38Police officers used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in Lyon on Tuesday as thousands took to the streets to protest against new pension reforms.
Footage shows several demonstrators throwing objects and rocks at police officers, who used water cannons installed on the top of police cars to disperse the protesters. The video also highlights a police officer kicking one of the protesters while he was on the ground.
According to local media, between 25,000 and 50,000 people were part of today’s demonstration in Lyon.
France has seen a large scale of strikes organised by workers’ unions since January, following the government’s plan to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030.
Ministers reportedly say the changes will balance the deficit in the system caused by longer life expectancy.
France, along with a handful of other EU countries, has the lowest pension age in Europe, spending nearly 14 percent of its economic output on them.
The last reform, in 2011, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.