France: 'Can't be 64!'- Activists raise banners on Paris' Arc de Triomphe as protests continue

Paris, France

Members of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union occupied the Arc de Triomphe in the center of Paris on Wednesday morning to protest against the government's pension reform. Participants in the action hung a giant banner reading "Can't be 64!" from the top terrace of the iconic monument, as well as banners of the CGT union. Due to the demonstration, which lasted for about 2 hours, part of the panoramic site, overlooking the famous Champs Elysées, was closed to tourists. French trade union leaders and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne failed to reach an agreement on the pension reform on Wednesday. Binet called the meeting 'useless', noting that the inter-union delegation had decided to leave the room, as the government side proposals did not include withdrawing the pension reform. In her turn, Borne told reporters that she was open to further talks but added that she would not back down on the retirement age. Demonstrations in France have intensified since the Macron government decided to bypass a vote in the National Assembly and force through the plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, as well as to extend the required employment period for a worker to receive a full pension to 43 years. French unions called for an 11th day of nationwide strikes to be held on Thursday, April 6, against the divisive overhaul to the national retirement age.

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