Huge crowds clash with police across France over pension reforms

Huge crowds of protesters clashed with riot police in cities across France today in a second day of nationwide protests over Emmanuel Macron’s plan to make people work longer before retirement. 

Hundreds of thousands of striking workers descended onto the streets of French cities – from Paris to Marseille – to denounce a reform that raises the retirement age by two years to 64 in a major test of Macron’s presidency.

The demonstrations were at first peaceful but they soon descended into chaos in some cities, with protesters clashing with baton-wielding riot police officers and throwing fireworks at them in the western city of Nantes. 

The union-led protests ended up disrupting French refinery deliveries, public transport and schools today, with only one in three high-speed TGV trains operating today and the Paris metro in disarray.

For unions, the challenge will be maintaining a strike movement at a time when high inflation is eroding salaries. 

But the energy branches of some of France’s largest unions have committed to ‘Robin Hood’ operations which have seen staff switching off smart meters to give away free electricity in defiance of Macron’s government.

A flare burns during a rally against the French government’s planned reform of the pension system, in Montpellier on Tuesday

Protesters demonstrate with banners and flags on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform, in Saint-Denis de la Reunion on the French Indian island of La Reunion on Tuesday

Thousands of protesterss gather at Place d’Italie square for a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform, in Paris on Tuesday 

A woman faces French CRS riot police during a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform, in Nantes on Tuesday

Protesters demonstrate on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform in Nantes on Tuesday

Protesters light flares and throw fireworks at riot police as clashes erupt during a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform, in Nantes on Tuesday

Marching behind banners reading ‘No to the reform’ or ‘We won’t give up,’ many protesters said today they would take to the streets as often as needed for the government to back down.

‘We won’t drive until we’re 64!’ bus driver Isabelle Texier said at a protest in Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast. 

‘For the president, it’s easy. He sits in a chair… he can work until he’s 70, even,’ she said, adding: ‘We can’t ask roof layers to work until 64, it’s not possible.’

‘This is about more than pensions, it is about what kind of society we want,’ 59-year-old university professor Martine Beugnetsa said.

After January 19 when more than a million people took to the streets on the first nationwide strike day, unions said initial data from protests across the country showed a bigger turnout.

‘It’s better than on the 19th … it’s a real message sent to the government, saying we don’t want the 64 years,’ Laurent Berger, who leads CFDT, France’s largest union, said. 

As large crowds marched across France, veteran left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon celebrated ‘a historic day’ of protests and predicted defeat for Macron. 

French riot police face protesters who demonstrate on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform in Nantes on Tuesday

The demonstrations were at first peaceful but they soon became violent in some cities, with protesters clashing with baton-wielding riot police officers in the western city of Nantes (pictured)

Protesters clash with riot police during demonstrations in Nantes on Tuesday 

Hundreds of thousands of striking workers descended onto the streets of French cities – from Paris to Marseille – to denounce a reform that raises the retirement age by two years to 64 in a major test to Macron’s presidency. Pictured: Protesters clash with riot police during demonstrations in Nantes on Tuesday

Thousands of protesters descended onto Place d’Italie square for a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform in Paris on Tuesday

A protester holds a placard reading “Metro, work, grave” during a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform in Nantes on Tuesday

Trade union members hold placards and burn flares during a demonstration on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform, in Mende, southern France, on Tuesday

In Paris, flag-waving, horn-blowing demonstrators gathered in large numbers for an afternoon march through the capital.

‘It’s not often that we see such a mass mobilization,’ Mélenchon, speaking in the southern city of Marseille. ‘It’s a form of citizens’ insurrection.’ 

The government mobilised 11,000 officers to police the protests. 

Opinion polls show a substantial majority of the French oppose the reform, but Macron intends to stand his ground. The reform was ‘vital’ to ensure the viability of the pension system, he said on Monday.

Some felt resigned amid bargaining between Macron’s ruling alliance and conservative opponents who are more open to pension reform than the left.

‘There’s no point in going on strike. This bill will be adopted in any case,’ said 34-year-old Matthieu Jacquot, who works in the luxury sector.

Unions said half of primary school teachers had walked off the job. TotalEnergies said 55 per cent of its workers on morning shifts at its refineries had downed tools, a lower number than on January 19. The hard-left CGT union said the figure was inaccurate.

For unions, the difficulty will maintaining the momentum behind the strike movement at a time of high inflation and high energy prices. 

At a local level, some announced ‘Robin Hood’ operations unauthorised by the government. In the southwestern Lot-et-Garonne area, the local CGT trade union branch cut power to several speed cameras and disabled smart power meters. 

‘When there is such a massive opposition, it would be dangerous for the government not to listen,’ said Mylene Jacquot, secretary general of the CFDT union’s civil servants branch.

French riot police push back protesters as clashes erupt during a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform in Nantes

French CRS riot police face protesters as clashes erupt during a rally on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform in Nantes on Tuesday

People take part in the demonstration in Marseille on January 31 as part of a nationwide day of strikes and rallies for the second time in a month to protest a planned reform to boost the age of retirement from 62 to 64

Protesters set off flares as they demonstrate on a second day of nationwide strikes and protests over the government’s proposed pension reform, in Nantes on Tuesday 

People take part in a demonstration in Marseille on January 31, 2023 as part of a nationwide day of strikes and rallies for the second time in a month to protest a planned reform to boost the age of retirement from 62 to 64

The pension system reform would yield an additional 17.7 billion euros (£15.5 billion) in annual pension contributions, according to Labour Ministry estimates. 

Unions say there are other ways to raise revenue, such as taxing the super rich or asking employers or well-off pensioners to contribute more.

‘This reform is unfair and brutal,’ said Luc Farre, the secretary general of the civil servants’ UNSA union.

French power supply was down by 4.5 per cent or 3 gigawatts (GW), as workers at nuclear reactors and thermal plants joined the strike, data from utility group EDF showed.

TotalEnergies said deliveries of petroleum products from its French sites had been halted, but that customers’ needs were met.

The government made some concessions while drafting the legislation. Macron had originally wanted the retirement age to be set at 65, while the government is also promising a minimum pension of 1,200 euros a month.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has said the 64 threshold is ‘non-negotiable’, but the government is exploring ways to offset some of the impact, particularly on women.

Hard-left opposition figure Jean-Luc Melenchon, a vocal critic of the reform, said parliament would on Monday debate a motion calling for a referendum on the matter.

‘The French are not stupid,’ he said at a march in Marseille. ‘If this reform is vital, it should be possible to convince the people.’

High school and university students also joined the movement, with a few dozen students at the prestigious Sciences-Po university occupying its main building overnight.

‘It’s important to get young people involved in the pensions debate,’ Jean-Baptiste Bonnet, a student there, said.

 Even a prison, in the southwestern city of Nimes, was blocked by protesting staff, a union source said.

France has the lowest qualifying age for a state pension among major European economies.

The government has said the changes are necessary to guarantee the future financing of the pension system, which is forecast to tip into deficit in the next few years.

But opponents point out that the system is not in trouble, insisting pension spending is not out of control.

The government has signalled there could be wiggle room on some of the suggested measures, but not on the age limit.

Macron’s centrist allies, short of an absolute majority in parliament, will need votes from conservatives to push through the new legislation.