Latest update: 18/10/2010

- France - Nicolas Sarkozy - pensioners - Reform - unions

Pension Reform: who will back down?

Marc Perelman interviews Raquel Garrido, National Secretary, Party of the left; Jonas Haddad, National Delegate, UMP’s youth movement; David Gauthier-Villars, Wall Street Journal Correspondent in Paris; and Bruno Jeanbart, Director of polling, Opinion Way.

POLITICS

Click here to watch part 2 of POLITICS.

Marc Perelman

French Politics Editor

17/05/2012 - POLITICS

French Presidency: A break with the past?

It was a week of handovers. On Tuesday, France's first Socialist president in 17 years made his way up the red carpet and into the history books, becoming only the second Socialist since 1958 to take up residence at the Élysée palace.

09/05/2012 - POLITICS

François Hollande: A 'normal' president?

François Hollande is France's new leader; only the second Socialist president since 1958. But while Hollande has won the mother of all French political battles, he has not won the war. Both the Socialists and Conservatives are gearing up for crucial parliamentary elections in June. They will shape the Hollande presidency by deciding whether he will have a majority to implement his policies or not.

26/04/2012 - POLITICS

French Presidential Runoff: Dear far-right voters...

We are now 10 days away from the second round run-off of the French presidential election. As expected, the ballot will feature François Hollande versus Nicolas Sarkozy. But the wild card will be Marine Le Pen and her 6.4 million voters in the first round. Both candidates want her voters, but how far can they go? And will it work?

18/04/2012 - POLITICS

Presidential Election: Sarkozy and Hollande in pole position

There are now only a few days left before we will know the verdict of the first round of France's presidential election. So who is likely to win the most votes in this first round, and in the run-off two weeks later?

11/04/2012 - POLITICS

Presidential Election: The final countdown

There are now only ten days left before round one of the French presidential election. It's the final stretch in a gruelling campaign - the candidates are exhausted but still lining up rallies and interviews. It's time for the French to make up their minds, although the latest opinion polls show little change, with François Hollande still the favourite.

Comments (2)

Pension Reforms

by Anonyme - 20/10/2010 - 20:15

To Anonyme in NZ: The pension age is 65 in France, the new age of eligibility for full pension will be 67. It is the retirement age that is increasing to 62 from 60. Yes, they have had it good for a long time..you can't give a crowd the big cookie and then take it back and give them the little one instead without the crying about it, can you? It would do the people of France good to compare what they have had, and will have to what is the reality for working people all over the developed world. Also, they need to understand the necessity of this motion, and that it ultimately cannot be avoided. The EU requires it, and will not allow Sarkozy to back down.

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Pension reforms

by Anonyme - 19/10/2010 - 01:52

I can't believe the furore this is causing amongst the French population. Pension payable at age 60? Come on, accept that you have had it too good for too long! Here in New Zealand, the state pension does not become payable until age 65 and there is talk it may have to be extended to 67, beyond about 2020. This has already happened in much bigger Australia, their pension age beocomes 67 beyond 2020. Someone has to pay for these generous benefits and the percentage of working people to retirees is getting smaller all the time, so fewer and fewer taxpayers to provide the tax which enables governments to pay pensions. So get over it, 62 is still generous!!!

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