Large-scale demonstrations in Paris over pension reforms

January 21, 2025: Massive protests erupted in Paris and across France following the government’s controversial decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne invoked Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to bypass a parliamentary vote, sparking outrage among opposition leaders and citizens. This decision, due to the government’s lack of a parliamentary majority, intensified public dissent, simmering over months of heated debate and nationwide strikes.
Thousands gathered at Place de la Concorde in Paris, chanting slogans, waving union flags, and singing the national anthem to reject the reforms.

Demonstrations turned violent as night fell, with fires ignited and police deploying tear gas to disperse crowds. Over 120 arrests were reported.
The opposition swiftly responded, with left-wing parties filing a no-confidence motion against President Emmanuel Macron’s government. Critics described the move as undemocratic and claimed it undermined the administration’s legitimacy. Mathilde Panot, leader of the leftist La France Insoumise, accused Macron of plunging the country into a crisis without parliamentary or popular approval.

Union leaders vowed to escalate their resistance, scheduling another nationwide strike on March 23. The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) and other unions described the reforms as “brutal” and pledged sustained action to defend workers’ rights.

The government argues that the reforms are necessary to address a looming pension deficit, aligning France with other European nations that have already extended retirement ages. However, opponents criticize the measures as favoring the wealthy and neglecting workers’ hardships.

This clash highlights the deep divisions within French society, where pensions symbolize a cornerstone of social security. While constitutional procedures have been invoked in similar cases, the intense backlash underscores the government’s fragile standing and the broader dissatisfaction with economic and political policies.