Esra Taskin
22 January 2023•Update: 22 January 2023
PARIS
Youth organizations demonstrated Saturday in Paris against the government's pension reform proposal.
A demonstration was held in the French capital at the request of youth organizations. The protest which began at Bastille Square and finished in Nation Square, was held to protest the proposal and the raising of the retirement age.
"Resistance!" and "We are here, even if Macron does not want us!" read slogans held by members of a dozen youth organizations.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the former leader of the hard-left party La France Insoumise, took part in the protest along with Yellow Vest protestors.
Melenchon congratulated demonstrators on his Twitter, saying that 150,000 people turned out.
While masked, demonstrators damaged cash machines and the glass at banks and garbage bins were set on fire. Glass bottles were thrown at security forces at the end of the demonstrations.
High school student Olivia Dufourt, 18, told Anadolu that they were protesting pension reform since it would cause individuals nearing retirement to have to wait longer.
More strikes are expected amid simmering anger at President Emmanuel Macron’s planned pension reforms, which include hiking the retirement age from 62 to 64.
According to the government, 10,000 police officers were deployed at Thursday’s protests, including 3,500 in Paris.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who unveiled details of the reform proposal Jan. 10, said last week that the minimum pension amount would rise to 85% of the minimum wage, meaning around €1,200 ($1,288) per month.
Starting in 2027, only those who have worked for at least 43 years would be eligible for a full pension, she said.
The draft proposal is set to be presented Jan. 23 to the Council of Ministers.
