BANKING: Banks brace for Cantona’s mass cash withdrawal protest
A European banking chief has called French football star Eric Cantona “totally irresponsible” for encouraging people to empty their bank accounts in order to “punish” the sector. The mass cash withdrawal is planned for today. Read More
FRANCE: Senate approves pension reform draft, bill heads for final vote
The French Senate approved a pension reform bill on Tuesday, bringing the draft one step closer to law, despite weeks of nationwide protest against the reform. The text will come before the National Assembly on Wednesday for a final vote. Read More
FRANCE: Protesters take to the streets on fifth day of strikes
French unions hope to bring millions onto the streets Saturday in protest at government plans to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62. Strikes have squeezed fuel supplies, grounded flights and cut rail services across the country. Read More
FRANCE: French transport strikes enter second day
Record numbers of French demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday in their latest protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan for pension reform, prompting a second straight day of strikes on public transport on Wednesday. Read More
FRANCE: Students join workers in largest pension protests yet
Students joined workers for a new round of nationwide strikes across France on Tuesday in protest at government plans to overhaul the country’s pension system and raise the legal retirement age from 60 to 62. Read More
FRANCE: France faces further strikes and protests over pensions
French unions begin a new round of nationwide strikes in protest at government plans to overhaul the country’s pension system as senators approve a controversial move to raise the age at which workers can retire with a full pension. Read More
FRANCE: French Senate approves raising retirement age to 62
French Senators have backed a measure raising the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, part of a controversial law to overhaul France’s pension system. Unions have planned an unlimited strike set to begin Oct. 12 in protest at the law. Read More
FRANCE: Govt amends pension reform ahead of national strike
French President Nicolas Sarkozy offered to tweak part of his controversial pension reform plan, to enable parents of three or more children to retire early. The changes comes as French unions call for open-ended strikes, starting Oct.12, in protest. Read More
FRANCE: French unions call for more protests over pension reform
French trade unions have called for more demonstrations, on October 2 and October 12, in protest against a pension reform that would raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62. Read More
FRANCE: Week of unrest kicks off with Roma crackdown protest
At least 10,000 protesters marched through the streets of Paris Saturday to rally against the government’s crackdown on immigrants and the recent expulsion of hundreds of Roma. Police are bracing for more protests in the coming days. Read More