Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

France braces for new strikes against Macron's pension 'reform'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Jan 2023 08:42
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

Another wave of mass protests and strikes is expected over Paris's proposed pension overhauls.

  • x
  • demonstrators march in Place de la Republique during a rally in Paris, as workers go on strike over the French President's plan to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. (AFP)
    Demonstrators march in Place de la Republique during a rally in Paris, as workers go on strike over the French President's plan to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64, January 19, 2023. (AFP)

The French government and its left-wing opponents traded the blame for the anticipated disruptions as France prepared for another day of widespread protests and strikes over President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms.

The biggest demonstrations since the last major round of pension reform under right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy witnessed around 1.1 million people on the street last week, on January 19, according to official statistics. 

In addition to strike disruptions to transport, schools, and other services, a police source told AFP that security forces were expecting similarly sized crowds on Tuesday in 240 demonstrations around the country. 

The strikes represent a significant test for Macron as he seeks to put into practice a centerpiece policy of his second term in office, with unions predicting further stoppages.

Read next: 200+ strikes planned as French government insists on pension reform

The most controversial part of the proposed reform is hiking the minimum retirement age to 64 from 62.

The president stated in a statement on Monday that the reform was "essential when we compare ourselves to the rest of Europe".

However, a senior lawmaker from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, Mathilde Panot, has accused the centrist president and his ministers of being responsible for the stoppages that are to cripple public transport and other services. 

"They're the ones who want to wreak havoc on the country," she told BFM television, while also criticizing comments by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin over the weekend as a "provocation." 

On Saturday, a close Macron ally, Darmanin, said that left-wing political parties were only looking to "screw up the country" and were defending "idleness and champagne socialism." 

What about Macron's credibility? 

After including pension changes in his re-election manifesto last year, Macron now says that the future financing of the pension system, which is expected to go into deficit in the coming years, should be guaranteed.

Related News

French unions set new protest date

Paris Mayor resists pressure, not to force workers to clean streets

Opponents claim that the system is currently balanced and that the head of the independent Pensions Advisory Council recently told parliament that "pensions spending is not out of control, it is relatively contained."

Analysts believe that failure to succeed with a signature proposal would severely undermine Macron's credibility for the remainder of his second and final term in office.

Read next: France to announce pension reforms, experts warn of public storm

The government, led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, has signaled wiggle room on some measures as parliamentary committees began reviewing the draft law on Monday.

Borne proposes that working conditions be improved for people who began working at a young age, mothers who interrupted their careers to care for children, and people who invested in further education. On the other hand, the headline age limit of 64 is "non-negotiable," she said on Sunday.

Laurent Berger, head of the CFDT union, warned that the government "cannot remain deaf to this formidable mobilization." 

"Listen, listen, listen to this discontent," he told France 2 television.

Why is Macron struggling in parliament? 

The majority of Paris metro and suburban rail services will be severely restricted on Tuesday, operator RATP said, while intercity travel will be disrupted with one in three high-speed TGV trains running, according to SNCF. 

Air travel is less affected, with Air France stating that one in every ten short and medium-distance flights will be canceled, while long-distance flights will be unaffected. Only minor disruption is expected on international Thalys and Eurostar train services.

Read next: France: Mass demonstrations against Macron's pension reforms

According to the main teachers' union, Snuipp-FSU, roughly half of all nursery and primary school teachers would go on strike. Macron and his allies are also facing struggles in parliament as well as on the street.

In an attempt to slow the draft legislation's passage through parliament, the left-wing opposition has submitted over 7,000 amendments.

Macron's centrist allies, short of an absolute majority in parliament, will need votes from conservatives to approve the pensions plan.

Read next: Macron should prepare for an early retirement: Spiked

  • strikes in France
  • France protests
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • pension reform

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS