France moves to block Macron’s plan to raise retirement age

• French unions organize a day of widespread strikes and demonstrations.
• Demonstrations against President Macron’s proposals to raise the retirement age.
• Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched.

The French unions organize a day of widespread strikes and demonstrations against President Macron’s proposals to raise the retirement age, putting his reform agenda in a make-or-break situation.

The official retirement age will increase from 62 to 64 thanks to a new measure that must be approved by parliament.

Numerous schools are shuttered, and public transportation has been severely impacted.

At some of the more than 200 rallies held throughout France, attendance was notable. Paris is scheduled to host the largest.

In the afternoon, the large unions were scheduled to march from Place de la République around the city.

During the morning, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Nantes, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, and Toulouse as train drivers, public sector employees, and refinery workers went on strike.

As few as one in ten services were running on some train lines, while the Paris metro had a minimal service. 65% of teachers, according to the primary secondary education union, were on strike, compared to 35%, according to the education ministry.

The CGT union’s Philippe Martinez projected that over a million people will demonstrate. In anticipation of violence from ultra-left “black bloc” infiltrators, police were out in force in Paris.

In accordance with the plans presented earlier this month by Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, starting in 2027, individuals will need to work 43 years in addition to the current 42 years to be eligible for a full pension.

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