France erupts over government decision to raise pension retirement age from 62 to 64

Violent scenes have erupted across France as the nation revolts over a divisive government plan, leading to hundreds of arrests and a foul stench across Paris.

France has erupted over plans to lift the retirement age. Pictures: AFP

France is in turmoil after the government announced a bold plan to raise the retirement age, sparking nationwide protests and hundreds of arrests.

Under the controversial pension reforms – a key part of President Emmanuel Macron’s 2022 re-election campaign – the retirement age would gradually rise from 62 to 64, lifting by three months per year from September 2023 until 2030.

From 2027, employees would also be required to make social security contributions over 43 years instead of 42 in order to obtain a full pension.

In this footage, launched projectiles are seen at a protest site in Paris, France, as activists continue to question the government's decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. https://t.co/NpPufeYDH6pic.twitter.com/47mpbKEZSy

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 19, 2023

Mr Macron claims the reforms are necessary to prevent the pension system from collapsing, but millions have already taken to the streets in anger in recent months.

And last week, the fury stepped up a notch after the government resorted to Article 49.3 of the constitution to force the bill through parliament without a vote.

A police officer moves a protester during a demonstration in Nantes two days after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote. Picture: Loic Venance/AFP

As a result, protests erupted across the country. In Paris alone, thousands took to the streets, torching cars and tyres and being met by police wielding tear gas and water cannons.

Demonstrators also protested in Marseilles, Nantes, Rennes, Bordeaux and Lyon, where footage captured police beating protesters while accompanied by dogs.

Police in Lyon, France use dogs and beat protesters at the protest against the increase of the pension retirement age.

Police aggressively approach a journalist several times and with a dog.
pic.twitter.com/zDS1D8wAVL

— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) March 19, 2023

Paris absolutely stinks right now

Meanwhile, the pension protests have taken a filthy turn, with more than 10,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish lining the streets of Paris as unions organise protests and strikes, including by the city’s garbage collectors.

“Food waste is our priority because it is what brings pests to the surface,” mayor of the 12th arrondissement, Emmanuelle Pierre-Marie said, according to CBS.

A man walks past a pile of garbage bags that have been piling up in Paris since waste collectors went on strike against the government’s proposed pensions reform. Picture: Christophe Archambault/AFP

“We are extremely sensitive to the situation. As soon as we have a dumpster truck available, we give priority to the places most concerned, like food markets.”

The disruption has also led to flight cancellations as air traffic controllers walked off the job, with railway workers also taking part in industrial action and grinding train routes to a halt.

Workers in the oil, gas and electricity industries as well as education are also planning to strike.

A man passes by a burning barricade during a demonstration in Nantes. Picture: Loic Venance/AFP

The French government will face a no-confidence vote on Monday as a result of the chaos.

However, if it fails to pass, the controversial reforms will proceed and will be adopted in parliament.

But that hasn’t stopped protesters from targeting individual politicians and pressuring them to support the no-confidence vote, including MP Eric Ciotti, the leader of the Les Républicains party, whose office was vandalised over the weekend.

“They want through violence to put pressure on my vote on Monday. I will never yield to the new disciples of the terror,” Mr Ciotti wrote on Twitter in response to the attack.