Millions mobilised by huge demonstrations in France

Despite massive demonstrations, blockades of oil refineries and large-scale stoppages, the French government has managed to force through its plan to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62.

The French senate finally adopted the proposals on 22 October — they had already gone through the lower house, the assembly. Once both houses have again formally adopted them, the French president is expected to enact the legislation later this month.

However, the protest action is not at an end, with unions promising to continue their opposition. By the time the changes were finally adopted, there had been six massive demonstrations since the end of the summer, each involving between 2.5 and 3.5 million people in around 250 marches across the country, according to figures from the CFDT, one of France’s two main union confederations.

At a round 1.3 million for the largest mobilisation, police figures are lower. However, both sides agree that more people have been involved in the demonstrations on pensions than in any others since the start of the financial crisis, with a large number of schools students taking part from mid-October onwards.

The unions are continuing their action. A joint statement by the six main union confederations called for more demonstrations on 28 October and 6 November, accusing the government of “intransigence” and a “failure to listen”.

The government, they said “cannot respond to the current situation with denial and repression”.