French teens protest over rise in pension age plans
Teenagers in France have joined nationwide protests against plans to raise the retirement age to 64.
A youth-led protest took place in Paris while youngsters blocked the entrances to some universities and secondary schools.
Many are supporters of groups such as the far-left France Unbowed party.
Djana Farhaig, 15, said: ‘I don’t want to work all my life and be exhausted at the end. It is important for us to show that the youth is engaged for its future.’
At one protest, a teenage boy held a placard saying: ‘I don’t want my parents to die at work.’
Student Quentin Queller, 23, said: ‘Sixty-four is so far away, it is depressing.’ He added: ‘We should work less and have more free time.’
Since January, strikes and demonstrations have taken place across France against president Emmanuel Macron’s bid to put up the retirement age from 62 to 64.
He says changes are needed for financial stability but opponents argue wealthy taxpayers or companies should pitch in more instead.
Economist Thomas Coutrot described a widespread sentiment that ‘work has become unbearable’.
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