French protesters demand government abandons pension reforms

French labor unions have organized and staged a fifth wave of protests and walkouts against the government’s proposed pension reform plans.

Protesters took to the streets on Thursday in a number of cities nationwide, seeking to keep up pressure on the government over the proposed plans.

However, there were fewer disruptions during the protests compared to previous ones with the Paris Metro and most mainline train services working normally and most schools unaffected. Almost a third of flights were canceled at Paris’ second busiest airport, Orly.

The CGT union, one of eight backing the protest, put the number of protesters at about half as many as last Saturday's rally in which an estimated 2.5 million people participated.  

“These reforms are robbing people of their rights. I’m here today to show (President) Macron that he cannot be deaf and that there are consequences when you try to defy the majority of the country,” said Pierre-Yves Toudic, a 34-year-old engineer who was protesting at the Bastille Plaza in central Paris.

“The current pension system is not equitable, not fair. Some people can receive a pension of more than 10,000 euros ($10,706) per month for example,” said 34-year-old economics professor Clemence Lonchal.

The reform bill proposed to increase the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64. French President Emmanuel Macron insists that the proposed government plan is vital to ensuring the viability of the country's pension system.

MG