Retirement Reform Buzz

Protests over retirement reforms in France have recently taken the spotlight in international news. French news reports are comparing the current political climate to the uproar caused by the 1995 strikes under the Chirac administration.

The Government's plan to raise the minimum retirement age from 60-62, and the maximum retirement age from 65-67, has not been well received by the public. Sarkozy remains adamant that this reform is necessary to help reduce public spending, especially in light of the growing National debt and increasing life-expectancy.

The National Assembly is expected to vote on the reforms on Wednesday of next week. As the date approaches, protesters and unions, notably in the Energy and Transportation sectors, rally together. Millions of people from both private and public divisions, as well as High School students, have taken to the streets.

Transportation has been heavily disrupted, and half of all national and regional trains have been cancelled or delayed. However, flights from Roissy and Orly Airports appear to be running on schedule.

Oil refineries are on strike and 1 in 4 petrol stations have run dry. With the half-term school holidays just around the corner, people are rushing to petrol stations to fuel up.

Earlier this week, groups of teenage protesters began rioting, burning cars and looting shops, most noticeably in Lyon. The downtown district of Lyon has been blocked off by police since Tuesday, and metro lines no longer run through this area of the city. Some 290 youths have been arrested.

The country is gearing up for another few weeks of strikes. Official protests have been organized for October 28 and November 6.