Day of Rage: Nationwide Protests Against Pension Reform Engulf France

Thousands of people took to the streets of French cities to protest against the planned pension reform on Thursday. The reform looks to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The nationwide strikes and protests are seen as a major test for Emmanuel Macron and his presidency.

The protesters brought most of the country's enterprises to a standstill. Most train services around the country have been canceled and protests have already disrupted fuel supplies from refineries. Parisian public transport operator RATP has warned that three metro lines will not operate and most other lines will work with interruptions.

Local unions with the support of left-wing parties lead the strikes, arguing that the pension overhaul threatens their rights. Unions have set a goal of gathering at least one million protesters.

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Demonstrators wave flares as they march during a rally in Saint-Denis de la Reunion on the French Indian island of La Reunion on January 19, 2023, as part of a strike by workers held to protest the French government's proposed pension reform to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. (Photo by Richard BOUHET / AFP)

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This photograph taken on January 19, 2023 shows a metal curtain closing off access to Montparnasse metro station in Paris, as workers go on strike over French President Macron's plan to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

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Wooden pallets burn as demonstrators gather during a rally called by French trade unions outside the Gare de Lyon, in Paris on January 19, 2023. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

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Workers board up the windows of a bank branch located on the route of a demonstration, on the eve of nationwide strikes and protests against a pension reform plan in Paris, on January 18, 2023. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

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A protestor holds a placard during a rally called by French trade unions in Nantes, western France, on January 19, 2023, as workers go on strike over the French President's plan to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)

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High school students block their school Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 in Paris. French workers angry over proposed changes to retirement rules are halting high-speed trains, disrupting electricity supplies and taking to the streets Thursday in a day of nationwide strikes and protests seen as a major test for Emmanuel Macron and his presidency. High school student unions are expected to join the protests by blocking access to some schools.

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Protesters wave flares during a rally called by French trade unions against the government pension reform plan in Marseille, southern France, on January 19, 2023.

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Protesters hold a banner reading "all on strike" during a rally called by French trade unions in Toulouse, southwestern France, on January 19, 2023.

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Demonstrators march with a placard ' Truth, Dignity and Justice' during a rally in Saint-Denis de la Reunion on the French Indian island of La Reunion on January 19, 2023, as part of a strike by workers held to protest the French governments proposed pension reform to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.

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Member of the leftist La France Insoumise (LFI) party Jean-Luc Melenchon speak to journalists during a rally called by French trade unions against the government pension reform plan in Marseille, southern France, on January 19, 2023.