Over 1 Million People Protest in France Against Pension Reform Bill

More than one million people in France took part in nationwide protests against government’s proposed pension reform bill that would increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. General Confederation of Labor (CGT), a major labour union in France, said on Thursday that nearly 3.5 million people had taken part in the demonstrations.

While most of the demonstrations took place peacefully, at some places demonstrators clashed with police forces, injuring at least 123 security personnel, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

Due to the strikes, operators were forced to close many of the historic monuments on Thursday, including the Palace of Versailles and the Eiffel Towel.

The French national railway company SNCF and the country’s aviation authorities have already announced the extension of Thursday’s strike, which means the railway and air traffic will stay disrupted.

The sanitation workers in Paris have extended their strike until March 27, while nearly 9,500 tons of garbage are still waiting to be collected in the city. And the trade unions have already scheduled the 10th general mobilisation action for March 28.