02:38France: Clashes break out in Lyon as unionists march against pension reform
Clashes erupted in Lyon on Wednesday as several union groups marched through the city to protest the Macron government’s planned pension reform.
Demonstrators were seen engaged in scuffles with anti-riot police amid clouds of smoke and tear gas. Others were seen vandalizing shop windows.
The coalition of French unions hopes to keep up pressure on French President Emmanuel Macron to roll back the reform, whose key measure is to extend the retirement age by two years to 64.
“Knowing that 90 per cent of the active population of this country is against this reform it would probably be wise for the government to organize a referendum and ask the people,” a protester said.
"We are here for our children and grandchildren because we don’t know what our social, pensions and work system will become in the next decade. Everything is deteriorating. We are losing our values and our French culture," added a second.
Earlier this week, the French Senate voted in favour of the controversial reform of the country's pension system with 195 votes for and 112 votes against.
On Wednesday, the deputies and senators agreed in a joint committee on a common version of the pension reform project.
The document will be submitted to the French parliament on Thursday for a vote.
02:38Clashes erupted in Lyon on Wednesday as several union groups marched through the city to protest the Macron government’s planned pension reform.
Demonstrators were seen engaged in scuffles with anti-riot police amid clouds of smoke and tear gas. Others were seen vandalizing shop windows.
The coalition of French unions hopes to keep up pressure on French President Emmanuel Macron to roll back the reform, whose key measure is to extend the retirement age by two years to 64.
“Knowing that 90 per cent of the active population of this country is against this reform it would probably be wise for the government to organize a referendum and ask the people,” a protester said.
"We are here for our children and grandchildren because we don’t know what our social, pensions and work system will become in the next decade. Everything is deteriorating. We are losing our values and our French culture," added a second.
Earlier this week, the French Senate voted in favour of the controversial reform of the country's pension system with 195 votes for and 112 votes against.
On Wednesday, the deputies and senators agreed in a joint committee on a common version of the pension reform project.
The document will be submitted to the French parliament on Thursday for a vote.