Why are the French protesting? The reasons for Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age – and its consequences

Why are the French protesting?

People in France have been protesting for months against the government’s plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. According to surveys, more than 70 percent of the population is against the measure.

There were protests and demonstrations for months. On January 31, the biggest day of the national protests, an estimated 1.27 million people took to the streets. The French attach great importance to maintaining the official retirement age of 62, one of the lowest in European countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron has made proposed pension changes the top priority of his second term, arguing that reforms are needed to make the French economy more competitive and prevent the pension system from falling into deficit. France, like many wealthier countries, has lower birth rates and higher life expectancy.

Firefighters check rubbish after putting out a fire during a protest, a week after the government pushed pension reform through Parliament without a vote on March 23, 2023.

What are the pension reforms in France?

The new retirement age is 64 years and will be increased by two years from the current 62 years. But the switch will only happen gradually. From September until 2030, the retirement age will be increased by three months each year.

From 2027, employees will have to pay an additional year of retirement, rising from 42 to 43 years, if they want to draw their full pension. A 2014 reform already established this, but Macron’s legislation accelerated change.

Under the reforms, a pensioner will be guaranteed a minimum pension of at least 85 percent of the French minimum wage. Currently, this will result in a payment of around €1,200 (£1,055) per month.

After the first year of retirement, the minimum benefit is linked to inflation.

What does this mean for current retirees?

Only 33 percent of 60 to 64-year-olds work in France. This is significantly less than in Germany with 61 percent and Sweden with 69 percent.

The new law sees pension contributions of €17.7bn (£15.5bn) paid annually. The government says it could increase pensions for the country’s poorest 30 percent from 2.5 percent to 5 percent.

How did the controversial bill come about without a vote?

In March 2023, Macron decided to invoke the special power at a cabinet meeting ahead of a scheduled vote in the National Assembly, where legislation does not guarantee majority support.

The move ordered Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to exercise special powers to get the hugely unpopular bill through the House of Commons without a vote. The Senate, France’s upper house, later approved the bill.

Section 49(3) allows the Prime Minister to pass the bill after a cabinet meeting without a vote. MPs who oppose it then have 24 hours to present a motion of no confidence in the government to stop the bill from going through.

Angry critics, political opponents and unions across France slammed Macron for his decision to rush the bill through the legislature. The French opposition MP then presented a motion of no confidence in Macron’s government. Two attempts failed.

More than eight in 10 people in France are unhappy with the government’s decision to cancel a parliamentary vote and 65 percent want strikes and protests to continue, according to a poll by Toluna Harris Interactive for RTL radio.

Firefighters check rubbish after putting out a fire during a protest March 23, 2023

Demonstrators hold an effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration on day 8 of nationwide strikes and protests against the government’s proposed pension reform March 15, 2023 in Paris

What do critics of the new retirement age say?

Some French unions say that only a small increase in contributions will be sufficient. You called the new retirement age unfair – especially for low-skilled workers who start work earlier than someone with a degree.

The unions also warn against further strikes.

The leader of one of the unions, CFDT’s Laurent Berger, urged Macron to “make a gesture” to curb the protests and violence. She asked him to set up the reform for six months and look for compromises.

Macron has since denied this, but said he was open to discussing future policy changes with unions.

“We continue. France must not stand still,” he said. “We will not give in to violence, I condemn violence in the strongest possible terms.”

He added that the pension law – which is now being reviewed by France’s Constitutional Council for legality – will simply run its course.