Hundreds of thousands march against French pension reform

February 11 (United Press International) — More than 500,000 people took to the streets of France to protest against the president on Saturday MacronOrganizers say they are proposing to raise the country’s retirement age to 64.

Hardline CGT union claims 500,000 workers procession Through Paris and other towns across the country.

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However, authorities said only 57,000 people took part in the demonstration, which was the fourth in the past month.

“If the government continues to refuse to listen, then of course things will escalate,” said Philippe Martinez, president of the CGT union. according to Radio France Internationale.

Macron’s proposals will be made The statutory retirement age ranges from 62 (when most French workers usually stop working) to at least 64 or 65, meaning all citizens need to work a few more years to receive their full pension.

The plan is deeply unpopular, with almost 70 percent of French citizens opposed. Polls show a majority of young people who won’t retire for decades also think the measure is wrong for the country.

The French president has previously expressed strong commitment to pension reform, saying it is one of his most important pursuits, as an aging population means millions of retirees now receive $1,500 a month from the government.

The government has said it does not intend to back down, although Macron has made some concessions, including a guarantee that all workers will start receiving a pension of at least $1,288 a month, a key opposition demand.

January 19 over one million people even protested, 1.3 million people marched on January 31. 757,000 people demonstrated on Tuesday.

Union leaders have agreed to a fifth day of strikes on Thursday and may organize further protests on March 7-8, when the government’s pension reform bill is due to be debated in the Senate, France Internationale Radio reported.