Are the French really more fragile than others?

Wolfgang Hansson

Are the French more elaborate than others?  

Shaken by large demonstrations  

Published: Less than 2 hours ago  

This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.  

In recent weeks, France has been rocked by large demonstrations Photo: Thibault Camus / AP  

COLUMNIST  

While the rest of Europe is raising the retirement age, the French want to stay at 62. 

In doing so, they are going against an international trend. 

Are the French more fragile than other nationalities and if so who should pay? 

In recent weeks, France has been rocked by large demonstrations where millions of people shouted their anger at President Macron's plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.  

Opinion polls show that nearly 80 percent of the French are against the pension reform, even though it is less than a year since they overwhelmingly gave Macron renewed confidence as the country's president. 

One of his most important election promises, which I heard him make in many election speeches, was to raise the retirement age. Originally he wanted to raise to 65 years. His argument was that France cannot afford to let people retire early when people are living longer. In the near future, the pension system will not be able to finance the payments. It is important to act before the system collapses.  

But the French don't want to listen to that ear. Raise taxes.  

Let the rich pay more. Let the companies pay more money into the system.  

That's what some of the counterarguments sound like.  

Seen from the outside, it is easy to think that the French are spoiled, lazy or made of worse wood than other Europeans when they insist that they should be able to continue to retire early even though they are living longer today. 

But what we see is a classic conflict in a modern welfare society. It is very difficult to take away from people a benefit they think they are entitled to, even if the economic arguments appear to be quite clear. 

         

          Opinion polls show that nearly 80 percent of the French are against the pension reform 

          Photo:    Christophe Ena / AP 

Can walk at age 52 

Added to that is the country's special history when it comes to pensions. There have long been extra favorable rules for certain groups. For example, employees of the state railway SNCF can retire at the age of 52-55. 

In the 80s, the socialist Francois Mitterrand was elected president on the promise to lower the retirement age from 65 to 60. It was of course a popular measure and also gave birth to the embryo of today's conflict.  

It is of course good if people can retire early if they want to or can't bear to continue working. But when fewer people work and more have to live on a pension, the system is undermined.  

In 1995, Jacques Chirac tried to raise the retirement age but failed after violent protests. In 2010, Nicholas Sarkozy managed to get through an increase to 62 years, also after large protests.  

But to now raise one more time relatively close in will be a tough task for Macron. Especially when opponents such as left-wing populist Jean-Luc Melenchon counter with a proposal to lower the retirement age to 60. 

Macron does not have his own majority in parliament but is dependent on the votes of the right-wing Republican party. After the strong popular protests, many of his own party colleagues believe that they will waver when they have to vote through the proposal.  

Macron tried to implement the pension increase already during his first term as president but had to shelve the plans. Now he can run against the will of the people because he still cannot be re-elected. But it is important that the National Assembly succeeds in hammering through the proposal.Otherwise, all that remains is for Macron to try a presidential decree.

          Photo: Christophe Ena / AP  

Did not fall into good soil  

Most of Europe`s countries have already raised the retirement age or are about to do so. In many cases without millions protesting in the streets, although there is always a smidgen of discontent. 

Who does not remember the outraged reactions in Sweden when the former moderate prime minister expressed the opinion that in the future we will have to work until the age of 75 to get pensions we can live on. It didn't go down well.  

Great Britain and Denmark have already decided to raise their retirement age to 68. Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to 67 years. Spain and Austria have 66 years. In Austria, those born after 1960 are only allowed to retire at 67 and later at 68. 

Sweden is gradually raising the retirement age.  

Today's citizens in most well-developed countries can enjoy a job-free existence for many years. France ranks second among the OECD countries. On average, a Frenchman can enjoy his pension for just over 25 years.  

But maybe not for much longer.