03:38France: Protesters clash with riot police during rally against pension reform in Paris
Clashes broke out between demonstrators and ant-riot police in the streets of Paris on Wednesday, during the seventh round of protests against new pension reforms.
Footage shows police armed with batons and riot shields attempting to push protesters away from the streets. Officers can also be seen using tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Similar protests were also held in other French cities, including Lyon and Nantes.
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 per cent of its economic output on them.
The last reform, in 2011, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.
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.
03:38Clashes broke out between demonstrators and ant-riot police in the streets of Paris on Wednesday, during the seventh round of protests against new pension reforms.
Footage shows police armed with batons and riot shields attempting to push protesters away from the streets. Officers can also be seen using tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Similar protests were also held in other French cities, including Lyon and Nantes.
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 per cent of its economic output on them.
The last reform, in 2011, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.
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.