Pension Reform Clashes Worsen Between French Police, Protestors

Rabat – Thousands of French protesters invaded the streets across France on Tuesday to express their great frustration over the pension reforms raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Clashes created scenes of violence and chaos across France.

To fight the protestors, the police used teargas, and dogs to scare them, water cannons, as well as bright lights to prevent journalists from documenting the event, the Guardian reported.
The violent clashes took place in Paris, Nantes, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, and Toulouse.

According to the ministry of interior, 740,000 people protested across France. While protestors have consistently been turning out to demonstrate in the masses, Macron’s government refused to overrule its decision and insisted on upholding it.

Undoubtedly, these riots have had a great impact on the country’s transport system, the energy sector, and schools and civil aviation. About 15% of petrol stations were short of fuel because of strikes. Protesters in Nantes set blockades to prevent access to the city, schools and universities were barricaded across the country, and the Eiffel Tower closed because the staff also participated in the strikes.

The Guardian quoted Yves, a former teacher and factory worker, who retired at 59: “People are demonstrating on the street because citizens aren’t being listened to. We’re afraid of being teargassed but the police should be protecting us.”

Francoise, a social worker, whose retirement was due in three months, stated: “The social state and the social safety net is disappearing,” the same newspaper quoted.

Bertrand, a youth worker in Paris, said to the Guardian: “It’s not only pensions, it’s about people’s whole professional lives and working conditions.”

However, Olivier Veran, the government spokesman considered the pensions law as a “past” decision which was no longer up for discussion.