France’s Pension Reforms: Why Is There So Much Opposition? | WSJ

French President Emmanuel Macron’s government invoked a special provision called Article 49 Thursday to push through a controversial pensions overhaul. It is an act of defiance that escalates the leader’s standoff with protestors as trash continues to pile up in Paris after unions have held waves of strikes.
WSJ’s Noemie Bisserbe reports from Paris about what’s driving the opposition to hold protests over changes in retirement requirements and what’s at stake for the future of France’s government and pension system.
0:00 French protests have resulted in trash piled on Paris city streets
1:18 What’s the pension reform proposed by President Macron?
2:12 France’s current retirement situation
3:08 Why do workers oppose Macron's pension overhaul?
#France #Macron #WSJ

[@tech-bore8839]

"Why is there so much opposition?" Pretty sure passing legislation and skipping over voting procedures is the biggest reason.

[@annebeignatborde1832]

Especially as this is not the first time they've done it.

[@cbskwkdnslwhanznamdm2849]

no, its because no matter what these spoiled brats are demanding more handouts from the gov, despite living longer and despite the utterly bankrupt accounting of it all. They are living in filth as part of a hissy fit because they arent allowed to screw over their grandchildren even more.

[@leseuletlunique7886]

There was opposition before voting time though

[@kjurpjdpihe9096]

They did it eleven times...

[@DC-wg1cr]

And stealing two years of the working class' life

[@LeGarcondelAutomne]

For our non-french friends, some detailed info: first the commission who made a report about the financing of our retirement system precised that the system will come back to equilibrium without further necessity to reform it. They even wrote that this report shouldn't be used as an excuse to write a new law. So no, the reform is not necessary. Secondly they used three different articles of the constitution to speed up the process, the law has not been voted in the Assembly. Not even once. And finally, the government wants to "save" our pension system who doesn't need saving because of a negative balance of 12 billions, while they give 150 billions each year to big companies as "financial help" (companies who still make incredible profits and overflow the shareholders like Total - the CEO raised his salary by 10% while some people are litteraly struggling to eat). Oh, and our French billionaires have around 500billions of EUR and pay around 3% of tax which is lower than the average of the population. Still surprised by the anger?

[@philippenight2421]

Retirement plans aren’t the natural duty of government, and it shouldn’t be. That’s why this problem exists. Just take personal responsibility and be wise with your money

[@malkav0488]

​@@philippenight2421 no, you're wrong. Have a nice day.

[@jshannon9362]

@@philippenight2421 And the tax monies extracted by the State are to be sent to the moon? You can run a libertarian system but surely this would require taxes to decline. 150bn in taxpayer support for corporations wouldn't be possible without worker taxes.

[@philippenight2421]

@@jshannon9362I mean yeah, I don’t think the government should tax you to pay for retirement. I pay social security taxes in the US, but I definitely don’t count on ever seeing any of that money again, so I save for retirement on my own

[@vincentlee4799]

Interesting good points you make, to educate some!

[@Christina-uh8xk]

I love that they are standing up to their government! Wish we would do more of this here in the UK!

[@MikeJones-rk1un]

Dems call that an insurrection.

[@rashedalkaabi9522]

I love that too. Maybe it will be a "European spring". Good luck.

[@snap8626]

YOU DONT HAVE A LICENSE FOR THAT

[@theflashgordon193]

As the french.I think you did it too recently. with your history it's seem pretty hard in your country. I impress and wish you the best

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Paramount Pictures PSG Receipt

[@pianohar]

What's told in the video about the reform, albeit true, is incomplete and doesn't explain the main reasons why the French people are so opposed to this bill. 1. ~~Going from 62 to 64~~ to retire was *already planned* in previous bills by previous governments (EDIT: actually, what was already planned was adding working years, not exactly pushing the minimum age up, although this doesn't change my point : see the responses to this comment for more details). This bill simply accelerates the shift that was supposed to happen during the next few years. This is NOT the reason why this bill makes no sense. 2. The most controversial part is the removal of special retirement for the hardest jobs. For instance caregivers could retire at 57 given some conditions before the bill. Can you imagine a 63 y.o lady picking up patients to care after them in a hospital? 3. The French retirement system isn't at risk and doesn't need saving at all. Reports are that it's even had a positive balance during the past year, and there is only one projective scenario, in the official report, where it *could* be at a deficit during the next 25 years. 4. HOWEVER, previous bills passed by Macron to lower taxes on the richest have cost a 6% deficit to the French budget. So Macron needs to push some numbers to restore financial balance as he promised during his campaign. For the record this might be the only thing that he didn't blatantly lie about. 5. Macron and the previous governments have been destroying France's social and healthcare systems for years, work conditions have been deteriorating and becoming much more precarious for many professions and the lowest revenue and hardest working ones are suffering this the most. These protests aren't about French people not wanting to work or hating work. It's about them wanting actual conditions to work in a healthy and decent way instead of risking to die on their job. These protests are against offering human lives as tax reduction to the wealthiest.

[@indranoni7825]

Bahasa indonesia

[@aenews132]

Yes the retirement system is at risk. Keep being delusional

[@pianohar]

@@aenews132 Do you have any source to back that up? Because what's stated in my comment about the health of our Pension system comes right from the report of the COR (Conseil d'Orientation des Retraites), the very same one that Macron is supposed to have read... But I would gladly study any counter-expertise you have to propose.

[@aenews132]

@@pianohar yea I’ve looked at the economic report and it’s called insolvency. About to have more people on pension than paying in. I guess you could raise taxes or age but it doesn’t take a rocket science for basic math. US is about 10 years away as well

[@pianohar]

@@aenews132 Which "economic report" exactly?

[@Katarinatorn]

God bless the French people and God bless laFrance. The French people have always shown such strong opposition to unfairness. I love the French spirit of resistance !!!!!

[@rashedalkaabi9522]

Macron, the crisis is always in crisis. To the dustbin of history.😂😂

[@christianterraes8334]

Avec un pays endetté en ruine sans usine sans exportation une dette abyssale, je suis désolé mais le peuple de France ne va pas aller loin ce qu il faut faire c est une deuxième révolution industrielle intelligente. C seulement ça qui sortira la France des très graves problèmes l effondrement n est pas loin...

[@rashedalkaabi9522]

​@@christianterraes8334 bonne chance. Cela ressemble à un "printemps européen". Ce n'est certainement pas en votre faveur.

[@theroldan8013]

they are a vassal state... vanderleyen give orders and they obey like good doggies

[@allykhan8594]

Running out of money i guess.

[@starofdavid9919]

Speaking as a British citizen I have to admire the citizens of France for their no nonsense approach when the state try to force through unfair and unjust laws, I would really like to see British citizens with the same zest for fairness.

[@poptraxx418]

Their country is about to go bankrupt

[@starofdavid9919]

@@poptraxx418 Been reading a big crash is expected soon, cash out the bank time.

[@francoisdouaisi9720]

There is no public finance bankrupt for a country of economical importance like France. Even the Greece bankrupt some years ago was a gigantic hoax now admits by everyone with a bit of honesty, even german govt. A country is not a common bank account, doesn't work like a common bank account, and, yes, there is absolutely no problem in cancelling debt, except loosing a really practical instrument of fear for people.

[@poptraxx418]

@@francoisdouaisi9720 your grammar is confusing how can you say the Greek financial crisis was a hoax their economy has not recovered since and France is not as relivant as it use to be a country from the East can easily replace it

[@MickeyMouse-lm6zj]

just don't destroy innocent peoples belongings as "payback"

[@good2knowalla801]

In France, we don’t have the same pension system than in US. It’s inaccurate to compare.

[@pierren___]

C'est quoi le système de capitalisation

[@leseuletlunique7886]

@@pierren___ on a ça en suisse, fin en partie, en gros, en fonction de ton âge, tu verses un pourcentage de ton salaire à une caisse de pension, et de la même façon qu'un épargne, ça génére de l'argent, et accumulativement un capital, quand tu atteins ton âge légal de retraite, soit 65 ans ici, on va considérer ton capital (cotisations + intêréts), et en fonction de l'esperance de vie, on établit un taux de conversion pour des versements annuels. Par exemple: à la fin de ta carrière t'as accumulé 200k euros, intérêts compris, le taux de conversion minimal actuel en suisse est de 6.8%, tu auras donc 13600 euros par an de retraite avec cette capitalisation, c'est un régime privé, plus tu gagnes plus tu cotises et donc plus ça générera des interets et plus grosse sera ta retraite

[@pierren___]

@@leseuletlunique7886 c'est super en tout cas. Quel est le système français ?

[@injusticeanywherethreatens265]

sHILL

[@tomboura8951]

@@leseuletlunique7886 Ah ouais... Ça a l'air superbe comme système... On va en rester à la solidarité intergénérationnelle si ça vous dérange pas.

[@a.d.595]

In the UK ,if the government decided to put the retirement age to 80, nobody would proteste.

[@arno222444]

….. guys you still have a king and a non elected chamber of lords…. What do you expect…..?

[@newagain9964]

USA could do away with retirement and not only would no one protest, ppl would shoot guns into the air. Take that communism yeeee hawwwww 🤠

[@Jojothegodofrandom]

@@ahsanurr4219 yea we die

[@dejavucmail8176]

Unlike french, brit are more sensible and hardworking.

[@tomboura8951]

@@dejavucmail8176 Soft knowledge, after ready-to-wear here comes ready-to-think. Thank you for your great and deep brits reflexion...

[@chevaliersagittaire]

What the government did was more than avoid the vote in the assemblée, it was undemocratic. Whether or not you agree or disagree with it, nearly 2/3 of the French oppose the bill and the vote would’ve been lost in the assemblée. Although it is constitutional for the government to do so, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t authoritarian

[@antoinelles]

Is that article new? Was the Constitution undemocratic before?

[@YT-mp7ei]

Typical selfish entitled lazy French culture that doesn’t care about the future of their own country. What else is new?

[@WillieFungo]

A pure democracy would have people voting for free money until the state bankrupted itself. Macron obviously made the right move.

[@ten_tego_teges]

No it wasn't. Not everything people don't like it authoritarian.

[@jeffmorris5802]

You're all ridiculous and illiterate. Macron is totally in the right here.

[@locexorder6694]

Maybe what other countries needs to understand to get the full picture of whats happening in France is that the pension system isnt actually in danger but this reform is actually an hiden taxe at the price of people lifespan. In many fields, this is just a sentence to death to a lot of workers that will die before reaching retirement or a few years later. Also it is useful to add that government used the 49-3 article eleven times since presidential election. Thats simply not how democraty is suppose to work.

[@leseuletlunique7886]

Did you just insinuate that all the neighboring countries just killed their people but frenchies, the enlightened ones, want to be THE exception ? Bruhhhh.

[@ingislakur]

lol, you can work two years longer dawg, 64 is nothing

[@ad3l547]

@@ingislakur Ok, go to some manufactury and work 46 years. Because in France now, you need to get a job at 18 or later nobody would take you.

[@hkm3482]

​@@ingislakurNot all workers, and even if we can, we don't want to.

[@leseuletlunique7886]

@@ad3l547 Oh yeah, why Am i getting job offers on my linkedin in France ? LOL

[@TheTheopowa]

The use of article 49.3 is the conclusion of months of maneuvers to avoid democracy and brutforce a useless and ideological reform. The pension deficit is minimal and could be covered by raising taxes on the rich, raising minimum wage, chasing after tax evasion, etc. Choosing to make people work longer is to introduce funded pension and please the EU.

[@salgone952]

T'as tout compris camarade. You have understand bro. From Lyon, France✊

[@andrzejudalski7081]

"Taxes on the rich" Rich ever pay taxes. You'll only crush the middle class. Taxes are always paid by poor consumers in prices. "Raising minimum wage" lowers tax revenues as it raises unemployment and lowers the number of firms. "Chasing after tax evasion" Peanut-size profit that would cost much to enforce. Tax evasion =//= tax optimalisation. The post-Bismarck pension system is cooked. You're trying to put make-up on a dead body.

[@amund8821]

How heavily do you think you can tax the rich before they just move? That is what is happening here in Norway. The taxes are so high that everyone are moving to Switzerland.

[@goofygrandlouis6296]

An EXCELLENT summary of the situation ! Kudos.

[@thorn_lekoh]

​@@amund8821 they can move, we can find cheaper parasites.

[@henrysmith1464]

If French people wins, it would be doing a favor to peoples in other countries. Thanks, you are heros.

[@ChrisJohnson-um1hr]

I see the logic of raising the age for Pensions. But skipping over a vote on something so important to the people is undemocratic.

[@peskifrenchi8832]

Maybe instead of raising pension ages we should tax the rich instead.

[@761jared]

Except this has been an ongoing issue and no one wants to address it. Plus, in their democratically accepted Constitution, it's allowable for this to happen, unlike in the US, where the President making policy decisions on what agencies do is vastly different than this.

[@misterff1629]

It is still very democratic because with the 49.3, the law is passed with no vote at the assembly (it was already voted in this case in the senate) but should the assembly disagree it can withdraw the law by overthrowing the government with a majority vote. So the assembly still has full power in the process. The reason that they probably won't do that is because if the assembly overthrows the gov, the president can call for new legislative elections and I don't see something more democratic than letting people vote to decide where they the country to go.

[@willcruz943]

@@peskifrenchi8832 You can tax the rich with 100% of the entirety of their wealth as well as confiscate their entire properties and businesses if you wish in order to pay for your precious pension and the Government will still end up with a pension shortfall within a few years. Government has no business being in the retirement business. Heck, they should not be offering pension plans for themselves either since they put every taxpayer whether rich , middle class and poor on the hook for any shortfall of said pension plans.

[@romainlechat4031]

@@761jared yeah it's allowable we know, but it does not mean it's democratic and legitimate, 93 % of workers does not want this reform

[@FanEAW]

you know if corporations and rich people would be taxed PROPERLY it could pay for pensions and even more.

[@Thincastle]

Yes, then gamers would never have to work.

[@SgtJoeSmith]

and if the rest of the people actually paid taxes in the first place that would solve the problem too

[@TriLool78]

Yeah it's intersting to see that the richest man of France also became the richest in the world for a time this year. You would think a country infamous for its high taxes would make that impossible but hey, this is what you get for taxing income only and never capital 😅

[@SgtJoeSmith]

@@TriLool78 so you want everyone to get taxed on money they save each year on top of when they earn it and spend it?

[@loussis8584]

@Sgt Joe Smith Baby, Bernard Arnault and the others billionaires don’t hardly put money aside at the end of every month like we all try to do. Their fortunes come from the exploitation of workers all around the world. So yeah, they should pay high taxes on their capital.

[@Vetaul]

From the farmer strike in Netherlands to these strikes in France, there’s still hope for humanity.

[@r3dp1ll]

the WEF's great reset will fail

[@MinimalistMGTOW]

@@r3dp1ll I hope so

[@matthiasbourgeois8802]

The datas over pension systems are inexact, these are the datas provided by the government. The National council for pensions (an independant national institution) indicated that that deficit is the one corresponding to the worst case scenario. They even said they were seeing no substancial risks for an increasement of deficits until 2070. The thing is that now the pension system is even in positive this year. This law is only made up to reduce companies' cotisations on the pension system while the people is suffering from inflation and over all while the shares redistributed in some french companies are the highest ever. That's why we are angry, then 49.3 doesn't help, finally what happens is legitimate, just hope for macron that he'll stop it before is head gets cut !!

[@volodymyrv5897]

The adoption of unnecessary decisions that increase the guilt for their non-fulfillment, the biased one-sidedness of these decisions, and the unwillingness to revise decisions even if there are facts of their fallacy and inflexibility before the test of time.

[@xyzoub]

and the 49.3 was instituted to bypass the Assembly *in the interest of* the people: for example, if it were necessary to reduce parlementarian's wages, the government had to have the ability to bypass parliamentary vote; this is not at all how the 49.3 is used today, as it is used against the interests of the people. The 49.3 is designed to prevent any one power (executive, legislative and judiciary) from gaining a monopoly of power over the others and using such a power against the interests of the nation, yet here it is used for specifically that purpose. The 49.3 can only be used if it serves the people; in any other case it is dictating and ruling over, as in a dictatorship. The protests are thus fully legitimate.

[@matthiasbourgeois8802]

@@xyzoub VIe république mon frero il y a plus d'autres solutions

[@kenzo5096]

For the world its a french protest For french it was a Thursday

[@pacifique5961]

mdrrrr

[@matthiasbourgeois8802]

It'll be everyday until they withdraw this law

[@matthiasbourgeois8802]

@@hc3657 economic endocrtrinment seems strong on you my friend. That's a shame this system has proven to be a failure. I advise you to read books on debt too, basically no collective force ever runs out of money, moreover what you call free money seems to be working for companies public dotations ;)

[@TriLool78]

Until we get a governement that actually respect its people, you're right unfortunately. But it's impossible as long as we keep needing to vote to avoid the worst option, consequence of being too politically divided. I'm sure you can relate.

[@Mimibldr]

Wait for Monday!

[@krishnaSagar69]

Politicians think every other person works like them and can work longer. Only if they'd worked in normal jobs, they'd know how tough it is to work at that age.

[@okokokok9450]

We live longer so in the end we should work longer or make more kids to pay that pension because otherwise who is gonna pay for it ?

[@alexandresurvival4673]

​@@okokokok9450living longer does not mean being healthy...

[@tysone1254]

@@okokokok9450 Our current system requires subseqeunt generations to be larger to pay for the pensioners

[@nicolasgirard2808]

that doesn't change the math. The pension system is unsustainable.

[@TriLool78]

Thank you. You know what I think every time I watch a TV debate on working legislations between politicians and journalists ? Every single one of them chose their job, off course they don't see its potential for suffering.

[@somphaonamnakhone6801]

I salute and respect to French people, you guys fight for your rights, for yourself and for your grandkids in the future. If you don't fight today sooner or later you guys gonna be like American people. Ages 65-70 are still caring their bodies to go to work. The humans life is too short.

[@theroldan8013]

65 or 75 they are flesh for ww3... lol

[@volodymyrv5897]

The adoption of unnecessary decisions that increase the guilt for their non-fulfillment, the biased one-sidedness of these decisions, and the unwillingness to revise decisions even if there are facts of their fallacy and inflexibility before the test of time.!!!

[@darkbrightnorth]

They aren’t having any grandkids that’s the problem. There aren’t enough tax payers in the new generation to support all these old people. It’s the French government that is helping future generations by making sure we don’t have to pay for this. Or go bankrupt over it.

[@user-my4lf4bx6v]

@@darkbrightnorth ah yes,the French government is helping future generations by making sure they will retire at 80🤡

[@mrleonmoff6523]

The pension deficit only depends on how you view and manipulate numbers. And if there were to be a deficit, a third of it is because Macron prefers to give bonuses instead of raising salaries.

[@pierrickpenard-dumont889]

Exactly, the president of the COR (governmental institution that analyse the retiring system) said there was no deficit and they had years with more income than outcome, it is not a problem of economy (or deficit), it's an ideological one from Macron

[@jacqui7140]

THE PENSION COFFERS ARE FULL!!!!!

[@Sytrylt]

So true ! He is talking about a deficit only to scare most of the people, because he made a decision ! It's politics, only that ! The numbers are not saying the same thing, so are others politics, or economists. It's so frustrating to see people just believe him right away, with no questionning !

[@huguesjouffrai9618]

​@@Sytrylt there will be a deficit and a big one if we do nothing (and pensions will not keep up with wages), saying otherwise is madness. This reform makes total sense and will happen anyway some time waaaay before young people like me reach anywhere close to retirement age. Basically if we do nothing, young people will pay all their lives to maintain the benefits of the previous generations at a level that they will never enjoy (either because our pensions will be lower or because we'll retire later).

[@huguesjouffrai9618]

Macron doesn't control the salaries, companies do. And usually salaries raise when full employment is reached, which is difficult with high taxes and all the barriers to employ people like we have in France.

[@Earth098]

On one hand Macron says the government doesn't have money for that much spending, on the other hand he increases the military spending

[@ayanverma5746]

He has money, France recently done many deals of selling weapons as people don't trust usa and russia

[@jtgd]

Military spending is considered necessary. Also, military budgets solely on a currency unit basis tend to not take into account inflation decreasing the value of the overall budget over time. The US spends roughly $750 billion on the military budget. As inflation increases in the upcoming years, it’ll need to be increased to keep the same level of value being spent, because as time goes on, 750 billion actually can be 740 billion in 5 years, or 600 billion in 10 years, depending on how fast and how large inflation is. Look at the 1923 us defense budget compared to today. Looks tiny, but you must remember, the dollar has inflated many times it’s numerical value within the last century

[@sampajam6256]

@@jtgd you just said that citizens well being isn't a necessity, how come retiring early and healthy isn't as important as military strenght?, we are not american, in france we want to live well not to work to wall mart until 80, beside this is only the obvious contradiction the OP pointed out, since neolibeliralism counter revolution in france, france gift 134 billion euro to the wealthy and corporation every year, without any benefits for the country

[@benkitesurfs]

@@sampajam6256 how well will you be living when Russia nukes Paris? Military spending is needed to deter actual dictators from taking drastic steps

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

@@sampajam6256 I think a lot of Americans would want the same thing. Their military spending is out of control and their liberal cities are crumbling.

[@Belvederification]

I am happy to see a lot of support in commentaries.

[@loussis8584]

Moi aussi 😁👌

[@haohao3032]

bro in germany they could raise it to 71 and we would mostly likely just do so.. the french nation is a fierce, fighter one proven both in past and present all the time

[@grandhomme4183]

Germany is doomed anyway. You guys even have street names written in Arabic. Sad but your Germany is gone

[@theroldan8013]

germans are like emasculated ones... even norway blow their pipeline what a eunuchs

[@jinusrafezadeh3335]

Standing behind the working class of France ✊❤️🇨🇦

[@darkbrightnorth]

Stand behind reason and logic, unless they want to bring in a million more immigrants the current system will bankrupt them.

[@nerdaitami7205]

Merci camarade!

[@urbanart7325]

In the Uas you can retire at 80;if you chose and your still productive. And there is no pension in the US. We have social security checks that will never provide enough retirement income. Are the French saying that they have nothing saved outside their would be pension?

[@keyzarghazal5292]

@@urbanart7325 No we haven't because we choose to regroup our savings and share it between everyone. It's called "état providence" but it's all the workers who pays for the elderly. lots of politicians and rich guys try to advocate to change that and stop paying for the others but for themself. hedgefunds too make a lot of lobbying for that... there is money to make on behalf of the private pensions...

[@sm3675]

Canadians need to rise-up. We have expensive housing and food.

[@SekkiCola]

There are other solutions in order to save the pensions and elevate them. But Macron as businessman, that he is, want to please corporations and make the most of us pourer.

[@seansimmons5071]

Keep up the good work Frenchies, maybe one day the uk will wake up...

[@theroldan8013]

will wake up and get drafted to ukraine lol

[@minahquentin6134]

I don't think so.

[@nicholassilva3640]

Because the people don’t want that and they make the decisions. To quote V for Vendetta “People shouldn’t be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people”

[@navaneeth95]

The french know how to protest

[@skip123davis]

i only WISH it was 64 in the usa 😔i'm 61 and can't get social insecurity until i'm 67, unless i take reduced benefits.

[@aussieman8738]

same in australia 67 years

[@theroldan8013]

take that putin!!!!

[@TriLool78]

To be fair, it doesn't really work just with legal age here in France. You need to work for 43 years to get a full pension, so people out of colllege ideed have to work until 66-67. People who started working young, however, will have to work for more than 43 years to get to full pension at 64. That's new.

[@skip123davis]

@@TriLool78 thanks for that!

[@skip123davis]

@@TriLool78 thank you for helping me understand that better! it seemed fairer when working class people had not work as long, because they have harder jobs. it's still way better than here in the usa where we must work till 67 for full benefits, even though we pay half of what you folks do. i've always been envious of the generous time off, etc in france, cuz here in the usa they really do work us to death!

[@liesdevos4651]

Being French, trust me , the anger is at its top, govt will be sacked, by the way I'm not a young left extremist student, I'm a fifty year old guy with a good position in a major bank. But enough is enough ! We' have enough with this over corrupted govt. Do you imagine that our Minister of Justice is implicated in corruption files, and he's still Minister.

[@livinglifetothefullest22]

🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷💪🏽Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷💪🏽🇫🇷

[@rashedalkaabi9522]

😂😂😂🎉

[@MrLegendra]

The French protesting on the streets!? What! No way!

[@K0sm]

You should try it, the US looks like a third world country right now.

[@robanson32]

Came here looking for this as the first comment! Still chuckling

[@lovejunkie490]

Yeah. Unlike you, we are not fan of the doggy style mode.

[@MrSupernova111]

@@robanson32 . I hope you're not American making such a sly comment while the US banking system collapses.

[@Vandetho]

@@K0smou do know that in France, protests happened almost every month. All of the social aids create most of the country problems and the politicians fuel those problems by promising more social aid which is leading to more protests

[@kelandryyemrot1387]

In the U.S., the retirement age is 67. Depending on the job, you might be able to retire earlier, but plenty of people continue to work after qualifying for retirement. Some just like working, but others can't afford not to. The benefits they'd receive wouldn't be enough to live decently. And it's expected to get worse, according to some experts. Retirement may be a thing of the past for current young workers. If retirement does exist in our future, it probably won't have the good benefits. But we don't fight. We don't protest. We could probably learn a few things from the French. Good on them for caring

[@paulmaclean-kr1qm]

That's because Americans have been fed the lie ....."it's the greatest place in earth, you have every opportunity and if you can't afford to retire it's your fault ." Like every other aspect of life" capitalism is the best ." No socialism here ..if you give them free lunches in school they will stay on welfare forever.. ....fox news

[@joemiller9931]

We will fight and protest if they dare try raising that age!!! It will get ugly!!!

[@Spindrifts]

So many employees that work for US government, and state or city employees are able to retire at about age 55, whereas most of us in the private sector are forced to keep working.

[@qqui3583]

The French people know how to demonstrate for their rights. 💪👍 against the elite.

[@sylviel8166]

Ce qui a ulcéré la population c'est surtout que le régime de retraite présidentiel ainsi que celui des sénateurs et des députés lui ne bouge pas

[@pascalolivier7280]

For the english readers: "What makes the population upset is that the very special pension system will not be affected by changes for the president, the senators and members of Parliament."

[@lucasgonseth4587]

"He also wanted to introduce bonuses and penalties to encourage people to continue working until the age of 64" That's just wrong : bonuses and penalties to encourage people to work longer already exist, but the legal age of retirement, which the bonuses and penalties are calculated on, is for now 62. So with this reform, 2 years longer means no more bonuses for people who work longer, and even worse penalties for people who can't work that long, e.g. : people who work real, usefuls jobs, obviously not politicians or "investors".

[@darkprince56]

Can you believe that there are people like Ben Shapiro arguing that it should be raised to 70 and his reasoning is because our life expectancy keeps getting longer. Utterly ridiculous that the elderly should keep working and not enjoy the years they have left.

[@vol222nuit]

Shapiro is one of the worst moron you have to deal with ...

[@pierren___]

Especially when companies could buy robots

[@infinitedonuts]

I love France!

[@Dougidogg69]

"It's unacceptable to make us work longer while they're fattening shareholders. The capital incomes are here, let's take the money where it is, and on that there will be no qualms". -13th of March, Nogent-sur-Seine during a blocking of an energic site.

[@2chins931]

Well Done France, every country should do this.

[@christianterraes8334]

La France est au bord du précipice je vous le rappelle ! Pas d industrie pas d exportation une dette abyssale son effondrement n'est pas loin ! Et cela risque d entraîner d autres pays ça c est une réalité. L Allemagne commence à prendre ses distances vis à vis de la France pour vôtre information.

[@terabit.]

@@christianterraes8334 💙💙💙✌💪💪💪💪 Keep Resisting ! Keep Strong ! 🇫🇷+🇬🇷 French people are one of the very few nations that ACTIVELY protest like Greeks 💙🤍❤ + 💙🤍💙 We the Greeks, we love French people ! 💙💙💙💙💙

[@NicEeEe843]

Give out free hand outs 😂

[@pierric2748]

@@christianterraes8334 TU FAIS PEUR 😱

[@C.Jenaro.J.P.]

Es el mismo caso para México, las pensiones contributivas y no contributivas ya le cuestan al presupuesto anual cerca del 18% y creciendo, el mejor ejemplo fue el de Chile, tenían ese problema, y tuvieron que cambiar porque sino quebraría el país, es curioso que hasta en Francia se cuecen habas

[@donaldgeorge3717]

Lower the pay of legislstors

[@joemiller9931]

That will be the day, it's tough sitting at a desk!!!

[@pili9244]

Frankly, I'm French and it's one of the best article about the strikes in French. Every french media say that peoples are in the street but no one explain the reasons of the reform.

[@adrienblachere7893]

Im french and I Approve this comment

[@pili9244]

@@adrienblachere7893 merci mec

[@carlf.9035]

Good point I think there's a lack of understanding on the issues calling for this reform and the protesters deserve that knowledge but I feel the only way is for there to be a compromise. Even if age was not raised to 64 it doesn't mean there will not be a reduction in benefits to the social system as a consequence. Guess will see how it turns out.

[@latifahgordeeva6198]

How are they going to send all that money to Ukraine if they don't do the reform

[@fie2281]

I wish my fellow Americans could do this. Unfortunately our working class people have been so financially neutered by the 1% and our government that 60% of us are living paycheck to paycheck. We are quite literally unable to have a mass workers strike because we can't build up enough savings to survive on. I suppose that's the point, keep the working class so hungry and desperate to survive that they can't focus on all the things being done to them. I fear for my country, never surrender.

[@TheTruthAlways]

Bad fiscal management always comes home to roost.

[@robertstan2349]

yet not for the rich. that is until the guillotines come out....

[@christianterraes8334]

Absolument depuis 1981 la France a été très mal gérée.! Et là il faut payer l addition... La France n a plus d industrie plus d exportations et à une dette abyssale.

[@alexanderharo4550]

Ohh please. It’s the monetary policy their central bank manipulates that’s killing the economy. Crack a book open fool

[@alo5509]

Je suis de tout coeur avec Vous!!

[@aminorchacha]

No shortage of government money when it comes to bailing out the banking system

[@lacress6667]

there is many other scenarios that show different projections, and the system is led to be sustainable again if you look at a longer term. there is no urgency to do that reform. and there is many other ways to get money than raising the retirement age. providing same salaries between men and women would get enough money to rebalance the system, that's juste one of them.

[@alexander15551]

It’s always easier to add a government entitlement program than to remove one

[@jtgd]

I mean, yeah. That’s why “fiscal conservatives” are afraid to actually cut the things they claim they’re willing to cut.

[@DAVIDEPWDD]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZbSmXyciMaLZ8k

[@alpeshmittal3779]

With AI taking away jobs something like UBI is going to be must and much sooner than most people realize.

[@dquan731]

It’s a pension, so, it’s not an entitlement program? You worked for it. It is part of your compensation for your job, just that it’s paid starting 62, as opposed to your regular paycheck.

[@761jared]

@@alpeshmittal3779 But those who've put in little effort for their existence, should they be essentially rewarded for their minimal societal contributions?

[@wakemeup31500]

The issue is the way macron passed the law, without any vote.

[@gontrandtrand]

Nope, the issue is the working model. Bad conditions, low wages and they want you to live and die at work ! You gotta be crazy if you find it normal.

[@kevin-munch]

@@gontrandtrand low wages because of high taxes. How can our companies pay more than other European companies and our wages are so low out of these payments contrary to other European companies...

[@amvin234]

there was a vote in the senate. there was no vote in the national assembly. so while there's definitely stuff to criticize here on the political process of pushing the reforms through, you can't say that it was passed without *any* vote.

[@julesgdn9159]

@@amvin234 well the vote in the senate was with another article wich stopped the opposition, so its not really a legit vote.

[@vbregier]

There are many issues, this is just one of them. They have been constantly lying, and ignoring the fact that a very clear majority of the people do not want this law. And they have been using everything they could to not force the law without vote, claimed that they would not force it, and did exactly what they claimed they would not do. And I am only scratching the surface. All of this looks more like a totalitarian state than a democracy.

[@rasmuspetersen5643]

Power to the people ! I love it

[@sevens3]

Solidarity forever!

[@dabeldidd384]

"Why is there so few opposition in others countries ?" should be the question

[@gwarlow]

@Dabeldi DD Seems we’ve universally accepted our roles as “serfs”.

[@aspetm3846]

Talking about democracy is not a favourite subject of Britain, Franc, German, Russia and USA because of self interest of these countries as all of them slogans about human right and democracy but that never happened apart money for rich people and some very ordinary life for poor people just for surviving!!!!

[@seb1554]

You basically named the most democratic free countries on earth and are complaining about them. What do you think of other countries who actually don’t have democracy 😂

[@stephengirling7859]

"Work longer and harder" sounds awfully similar to "let them eat cake"! Let's hope the outcome is the same!

[@Rocks_Dad]

In the USA, we have allowed our manufacturing base to be sold out from underneath us. We have stood by stupid, fat, and happy until we are finally realizing we have allowed them to sell away the very things we once took great pride in. One of them being retirement pensions and the ability for one to retire at a reasonable age. I am very proud for French people as their solidarity and obvious understanding of what is at stake should insure they don't allow their standards of life to be withered away as we Americans have.

[@hangemhi001]

we need more people in canada to have the passion the french have when a political figure is imposing policy againt the peoples will

[@LowPlainsDrifter60]

The Canadian people did a great job when Trudeau forced everyone to have the jab, they were cheered throughout the free world & held up as an example to follow.

[@03neilh]

if they stopped bailing out the banks and rich investors with our money then maybe they could afford the pensions

[@cbpd89]

Based on the comments from French people, it feels like this video seriously misunderstood the situation.

[@danyelaru489]

People starts having health problems at 50-55. Not everybody works n offices . Go France,time for a revolutión

[@Pheebe.Dee.]

There needs to be a story about the sanitation workers strike. Trash is being stacked up everywhere!

[@TriLool78]

And it reminds us a little how useful sanitation workers actually are, since they are directly targeted by that reform. They start working young and must now keep at it until 64, often exceeding the 43 years of legal cotisation. Then their life expectency is significantly lower, so a good chunk of them die before ever retiring. And they had special measures to take all this into account, but that reform also deletes them. Shameful through and through, and we deserve the garbage overflow for failing them.

[@axel6269]

@@TriLool78 Agree, though to be fair we should pile the garbage up at the palais Bourbon and l'Elysee. They should be the ones to take out the trash if they think it's so easy that workers should have to do such exhaustive work for even longer.

[@joemiller9931]

@@axel6269 Amen!

[@Habitt5253]

Imagine if you were a worker that was promised something like a pension by upper management. Now imagine some rich person telling you that you are no longer going to get that pension, that it’s going to the board member’s and upper management so they can give themselves raises. I would riot too.

[@ludic.4638]

There is no deficit in the French retirement system. The numbers given by the government have long been discussed and we now know that there is no economical justification for this reform. Besides, the French system is the one that enables the lowest poverty rate among seniors across the EU. Why destroy something that is effective?

[@eaglesnipper6532]

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION HAS REIGNITED. The French ppl never forget their history.

[@Belloking1]

What we need to do is make it more appealing for people to have children cause that is ultimately what is causing this issue. Doing this is just kicking the can down the road.

[@TriLool78]

Interestingly, France has one of the highest birth rate in Europe, some say it's because the social system is strong enough that people feel secure to have children, which is not really cheap. Now, our social system has been under attack for 20 years at least and what do you know? Declining birth rates. Wonder if that's linked.

[@Mimibldr]

This is not a sustainable idea. We don't need more people on the planet. Immigration is a better solution. Taxation on billionaires is a better solution. There are many other solutions than increasing the population.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@Mimibldr No it's not. And France already did that in 2015 only to end up scrapping it because its best and brightest left and it generated no revenue.

[@estherchapoval2730]

because next they will raise the age to 80. they are just testing the waters .

[@ofrapeters3952]

That’s what needs to happen in the U.S , to force the government to resign..

[@Terab75]

Im french, sorry about my english... In many professions, people die before the age of 62. Why make them work more and they will have to work all their lives with difficulty without hope of living a real healthy retirement, while the richest are over 90 years old while they live on the backs of those they kill in the work.

[@tomasgomez3617]

Of course they forgot to mention that 1. Macron said he wouldn't try to touch pension system. 2. When he was elected against nazi party RN he acknowledged that he would take in count the fact that he wasn't elected for his program but against RN 3. When he finally admitted that even if he told he would't touch the pensions he would "have to" 4. His government lied about de benefits of the law ("more beneificial for women and with a minimum pension level of 1200€) and has lately proved wrong by economists and media... 91% of the active workers are against this....

[@harrytan5579]

I largely agree with your points. But isn't 1 & 2 from like 6 years ago and 3 from like 3 years ago? Please correct me if I got the timeline wrong.

[@julesgdn9159]

@@harrytan5579 Nope the election was last year

[@mororaph6046]

RN le parti nazi. Jsuis mort

[@theroldan8013]

dont matter who you choose biden, jhonson and vanderleyen are the ones who rules europe...

[@skip123davis]

RN is not nazi. nazi's were super left control freaks. you're not informed.

[@comradecracker447]

So what’s the answer? If it inevitably gets worse and worse then the age number just goes up and up. When does this inevitable trend end?

[@MemesnShet]

This is what a healthy democracy does when democracy is bypassed and trampled on They are defending it! Keep it up!

[@mororaph6046]

For everyone who don't understand why frenchies are against that law. Try to understand that a least 1/3 of our paycheck is send directly to the government. Try to understand that with this law all of your apprentice work don't count for your retirement (but you have pay taxes for it) Try to understand that nightshift and hard work don't count for your retirement (but you have pay taxe for it). Imagine your government make you pay taxes for year and then say, sorry it doesn't count, there's no money anymore. Goodbye thank you, stay at work, we need money.

[@rancidblock5615]

Or just magine your government runs an unsustainable pension program and as the population ages it's gonna uncontrolably burden the public finances...

[@vol222nuit]

@@rancidblock5615 tax the rich and the system stay sustainable .

[@shauncameron8390]

@@vol222nuit LOL. No. France already did that in 2015. Taxed the rich and yet the system remained unsustainable eventually having to scrap it.

[@eternaldestiny5232]

11 times is the number of 49-3 used in an undemocratic way to circumvent voting procedures.

[@QueenOfTheGreen27]

Why is that bad that it's almost double and also are the pensions really where all the money is going????

[@donm3844]

Say no to this and protest until it's changed back

[@SOS-ct9mv]

Now if the American working class could start rioting for pensions and pay increases instead of Trumpy, we might get somewhere. Inspiring to see.

[@Dougidogg69]

That's where the French Revolutions began. And it inspired the whole world. We French hope it inspires you too, cuz we're fighting for you too!

[@fuzzy3440]

All Americans have a pension, it's called Social Security. There is also a pension for retiring from the National Guard/Reserves; which I have. You can also get a pension from working a Federal civil service job which I will soon, or Federal Law Enforcement. State employees also get fairly generous pensions. The state of California has pensions for law enforcement/emergency services that can be upwards of $90k. California also is groaning under the burden of paying for those pensions (I read estimates of between $600m-$1t of unfunded pension liabilities).

[@matthiasbourgeois8802]

"L'internationale" my foreign bros

[@sudfac]

American working class now makes weapons and ammunition for Ukraine. GLORY TO HEROES!

[@Jeje-rb1vu]

@@fuzzy3440 California has re elected Newsom who will bury this state to the ground.

[@jamesmurphy9426]

How about a tourist tax to assist the pension plan

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

You would think so. People would definitely still visit

[@misosoppa3279]

Let's hope tourists stop coming to Paris. It's possibly the most overrated city in the world

[@jamesmurphy9426]

@@misosoppa3279 You do realize Paris is not France River tourism Castle tourism Cheese tourism Wine tourism Reenactment of battles tourism

[@alganis3339]

With how some people are commenting on this video I would agree too ! Thankfully I know not all of them!

[@Yoshi-wt4lg]

@@misosoppa3279 have you ever been to paris lol

[@johnalver]

Adults who think that they're going to be able to retire 🤣🤣🤣 retirement is a fantasy!!! Things only cost more every year, you can only afford things now by working!!! You think you're going to be able to forward stuff without working?

[@samgonzalez9845]

Why does article 49 exist in their constitution if utilizing it is so universally reviled?

[@cynthiamacnameee4480]

They have been pocketing the money why they have to raise age limit... for retirement you have people who last year and this year they don't want to work longer they want to go now enjoy their lives.... this part of rumors of work....

[@mohammedalbuzaid3083]

Oui, en tant que peuple français, nous ne nous arrêterons pas maintenant, et nous continuerons cette révolution en revendiquant nos droits. Assez de vous chefs, vous vivez dans le luxe absolu et décidez de nos vies et de notre destin comme vous le souhaitez, arrêtez de vous asseoir sur le dos.

[@alexandreippoliti6898]

WE NEED TO COME EVERYBODY IN BRUSSEL !!! Stop the corruption system of U.E !

[@Roark3675]

You actually need to contribute during 43 years to be eligible for full pension. So ... since most people do not start working before their early 20s (national average is 22 years and 5 months) we already do not retire at 64, let alone 62, more like 65 or 66. Voila .....

[@aspadeaspade7163]

Showing us Brits how its done. 67 yrs here in UK. Bravo France 👏

[@LowPlainsDrifter60]

Prehaps when the Tories raise the retirement age to 70, there might be some stirring among the British people. If there's nothing on the tele that is.

[@aspadeaspade7163]

@LowPlainsDrifter60 this is why we're toiling til 67 unlike the French: 62 good for them!

[@ErickHumboldt]

Force to the French people 💪💪💪

[@warlord212]

Love the spirit Power to the people

[@calbeebbqbbq]

People just expect there to be free money lying around? You have to save for yourselves...

[@johnalver]

Every retiree always brags during the first year of retirement how well it's going. . . What about in the 10th year of retirement??? I'm sure it's more difficult then

[@MikeJones-rk1un]

What if someone is physically unable to work past the set age?

[@leodupont2914]

He works until he dies. Welcome to Macronie

[@benediktioakim]

He die

[@bui3415]

Then that is a disability issue, not an age issue.

[@MikeJones-rk1un]

@@bui3415 No one wants to hire older people. How is that justified?

[@rain4825]

@@MikeJones-rk1un It's not, companies would theoretically have to meet senior employment quotas, but the punishment in not doing so would have been a slap on the wrists, so why would they?

[@teddyoflove5897]

Happy to see them show their position to their government. Here in Lithuania, no one dares to do anything about it, and they just keep increasing the age. It's already 65 years old and for me 30yold by the time I reach that age it will be over 70 years for sure... not everyone even reaches that age... they just want people to die before they can get what they worked their whole lives for. Disgusting.

[@thenickster2780]

Maybe if the the government didn’t discourage French woman from having children and embracing the idea that having a family is “outdated”. A country cannot run if their is no youth. If Gen-X had actually gone and started families this problem would have never occurred.

[@deloreswilson1798]

I love the French.👍🤔

[@unpetitpissenlit517]

TAX THE RICH AND LET OUR PENSIONS BE

[@bui3415]

The elder generations are the rich.

[@shauncameron8390]

Macron is the rich.

[@Sirius39170]

Why don't they just stop giving money to NATO, instead of reducing pensions?

[@carlf.9035]

I think the problem also is there is not enough dialogue or explanation at least from Macrons side from the announcement of this reform why it's necessary and what are the graver consequences of not proceeding with it. I think both sides the opposition and the government need to come to a compromise and be open to some policy changes to address the financial problems brewing. What is the opposition proposing in alternatives and what are the concessions the government is offering with the reform? Even if the age wasn't increased to 64 years, there could be a reduction in benefits to maybe not just retiring people. Good luck to all.

[@warrior1151]

I wish this country had this much cohesiveness amongst common people like that against their government.

[@ryanboeding1318]

I wonder if all the politicians will also work until 65 then? Probably not, politicians tend to pass laws that they themselves don't follow.

[@josetoutou6433]

Senate voted the bill but didn't include the senators' retirement system in the reform

[@Niko3387Y]

I can work as a politician until 90 years old, easily.

[@jm15xy]

What is most interesting is that President Macron isn't "overhauling" the French pension system. An overhaul of the French pension system would be transitioning from a defined benefit pension system to a defined contribution system. President Macron's reform (again, not an overhaul) simply patches up the system by adjusting some of its parameters. The disproportionate over-reaction of the French unions doesn't bode well for the future of that country.

[@Simon-Simon-Simon]

Australia is spending 350 billion on submarine's . 20 billion for FRENCH pension next 10 years seems nothing

[@kaysmith8992]

France: "rip up the streets! Raise the barricades!" UK: "Why are these pensioners blocking the road? I need to get to work!"