French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to press ahead with unpopular pension reforms that will raise the country’s retirement age, despite massive protests and nationwide strikes. During a news conference on Thursday at a French-Spanish summit in Barcelona, Mr Macron said“we must do that reform, we will do it with respect, in a spirit of dialogue but also determination and responsibility."
Workers in cities across France took to the streets to reject the proposed pension changes. It comes on a day of nationwide strikes and protests seen as a major test for Mr Macron and his presidency.
Thousands of people gathered for demonstrations in places including Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes and Lyon as strikes severely disrupted transport, schools and other public services across the country. French workers would have to work longer before receiving a pension under the new rules, with the nominal retirement age rising from 62 to 64.
