France: Pensioners Protest Against Macron's Economic Policy

Pensioners Take to the Streets Asking Macron to Deliver on Campaign Promises

On Thursday, French pensioners took to the streets to protest president Emmanuel Macron’s budget choices and the newest increase in the generalized social contribution (CSG).

Heading the protest were 9 unions and pensioner associations (CGT, FO, CFTC, CFE, CFE-CGC, FSU, Solidarity, FGR, LSR and UNRPA).

The president announced an adjustment of pensions at the end of August, which consists of a rise in 0.3 percent in 2019 and 2020, when inflation is expected to increase by 1.3 percent.

After 17 months of Macron’s administration, the loss in purchasing power is nearly 561 euros annually.

This protest is part of a growing popular discontent with the government’s economic policies, which pensioners say are dismantling a solidarity-based system and backtracking on 70 years of achievements.

Particularly, pensioners find it more difficult to keep up with the cost of living, “This country has 24% retirees. Can we imagine that the president of the Republic, his Prime Minister and the majority group in the Assembly have no consideration for this part of the population?” said Olivier Joutcher, of the UCR-CGT association.

These events take place at a time when Paris is receiving criticism from Rome on having turned away its “fair share” of migrants within its national borders.