Over one million protesters demonstrated on the streets of France Thursday against the French government’s proposed pension reforms raising retirement age by two years.
Eight of the biggest unions had called for a “first day of strikes and protests” against pension reforms unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron’s government. The legislation will require French citizens to work until 64, from 62 currently, to qualify for a full state pension.
Protests in major French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes and Nice, brought many transport services to a standstill; train services flights, schools and businesses in France were disrupted. The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors.
Teachers in primary schools and transport workers were among those who did not report for work. More than 40% of and more than one third of high school teachers went on strike, according to France’s education ministry.
Train lines across France saw “severe disruption,” according to French rail authority SNCF, and metro lines in Paris were hit by full or partial closures, the city transport authority RATP said on Twitter.
The French government has said this is necessary to tackle a pension funding deficit, but the reforms have angered workers at a time when living costs are rising.
CNN