3.5M people protested against French pension reform: CGT trade union

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) – Some 3.5 million people participated in demonstrations in France on Tuesday on the sixth day of the mobilization against the pension reform plans, a major trade union was cited as saying.

Workers from all sectors rallied to object to the reform plan announced by the government in January.

The General Labor Confederation (CGT) counted 3.5 million demonstrators in the streets across France, while the Interior Ministry recorded 1.28 million people attending the protests, according to daily Le Figaro.

The ministry's figure is slightly higher than the estimated number of 1.27 million during an earlier round of demonstrations against the reform on Jan. 31.

The reform plans, which have triggered public outrage, include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2030 and requiring at least 43 years of work to be eligible for full pensions.