HomeNewsFrance erupts in strikes and protests over pension age rise – in pictures

France erupts in strikes and protests over pension age rise – in pictures

March 18, 2023

  • Paris

    MPs from the leftwing coalition Nupes (New Ecological and Social People’s Union) hold placards as France’s prime minister, Élisabeth Borne (centre) arrives to confirm the forcing through of pension law without a parliamentary vote, during a session on the government’s pension changes at the lower house

    Paris MPs from the leftwing coalition Nupes (New Ecological and Social People’s Union) hold placards as France’s prime minister, Élisabeth Borne (centre) arrives to confirm the forcing through of pension law without a parliamentary vote, during a session on the government’s pension changes at the lower house in Paris

  • Nantes

    The changes being pushed through by the government include raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years, and increasing the number of years people have to make contributions for a full pension

    A banner reads 'bloc 60 age' during a demonstration in Nantes

  • Bordeaux

    Demonstrators including unionists from the rail sector stand on the tracks

    Demonstrators including unionists from the rail sector stand on the tracks in Bordeaux

  • Valenciennes

    Police officers in riot gear remove tyres from the road, as French workers on strike gather and block the entry of a fuel depot

    Police officers in riot gear remove tyres from the road, as French workers on strike gather and block the entry of a fuel depot in Valenciennes

  • Donges

    A man walks past a fire in front of oil terminals as workers protest at the Total Energies refinery

    A man walks past a fire in front of oil terminals as workers protest at the Total Energies refinery in Donges

  • Nantes

    Protesters with a banner reading ‘49.3 or not, let’s keep fighting, general strike’ and a demonstrator in a vest also referring to article 49.3 of the French constitution, which is allowing the government to push through the changes

    Protesters in Nantes with a banner reading ‘49.3 or not, let’s keep fighting, general strike’ and a demonstrator in a vest also referring to article 49.3 of the French constitution, which is allowing the government to push through the changes

  • Paris

    Pedestrians walk past bins overflowing with rubbish on the streets as collectors continue their strike

    Pedestrians walk past bins overflowing with rubbish on the streets as collectors continue their strike in Paris

  • Paris

    Demonstrators on the Place de la Concorde

    Paris Demonstrators on the Place de la Concorde in Paris

  • Lille

    A placard reading ‘Democracy has 49.3 fever’ outside the Institute of Political Studies, which was being blocked by students protesting

    A placard reading ‘Democracy has 49.3 fever’ outside the Institute of Political Studies in Lille, which was being blocked by students protesting

  • Paris

    Gendarmes clash with rubbish collectors striking for 10 days against the pension changes at the Ivry-sur-Seine incinerator

    Gendarmes clash with rubbish collectors striking for 10 days against the pension changes at the Ivry-sur-Seine incinerator in Paris

  • Paris

    The Eiffel Tower is seen in the background as protesters set fires

    The Eiffel Tower is seen in the background as protesters set fires in Paris

  • Marseille

    The blockade of the port of Marseille continues

    The blockade of the port of Marseille continues

  • Paris

    A protester on a traffic light holds a placard reading ‘Macron at the service of Black Rock, Black bloc at the service of the people’

    A protester on a traffic light holds a placard reading ‘Macron at the service of Black Rock, Black bloc at the service of the people’ in Paris

  • Lyon

    Police officers stand in front of fireworks fired by protesters

    Police officers stand in front of fireworks fired by protesters in Lyon

  • Paris

    A water cannon is fired as clashes take place

    A water cannon is fired as clashes take place in Paris

  • Nantes

    A protester gestures during a demonstration

    A protester gestures during a demonstration in Nantes

  • Paris

    Protesters holds banners as they gather on the Place de la Concorde near the National Assembly, with the Eiffel Tower in the background

    Demonstrators holds banners as they gather on the Place de la Concorde near the National Assembly in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background

  • Nantes

    A protester shields himself with an umbrella as he kicks a teargas canister during clashes with police

    A protester shields himself with an umbrella as he kicks a teargas canister during clashes with police in Nantes

  • Lille

    A protester holds a placard reading ‘hey Manu, do you want my hearing device?’

    A protester holds a placard reading ‘hey Manu, do you want my hearing device?’ in Lille

  • Paris

    People hold up a photo of Emmanuel Macron with devil horns during a protest

    People hold up a photo of Emmanuel Macron with devil horns during a protest in Paris

  • Mulhouse

    A man dances during a demonstration on the eighth day of strikes and protests across the country

    A man dances during a demonstration in Mulhouse, on the eighth day of strikes and protests across the country

  • Paris

    Leftwing MPs react to the prime minister’s speech confirming the pension law would be forced through without a parliament vote

    Leftwing MPs react to the prime minister’s speech in Paris, confirming the pension law would be forced through without a parliament vote

  • Toulouse

    A woman holds a placard reading ‘49.3’, after Borne’s use of article 49.3 to pass Macron’s pension changes

    A woman holds a placard reading ‘49.3’ in Toulouse, after Borne’s use of article 49.3 to pass Macron’s pension changes

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Gigi Sague