France's Senate adopts disputed pension reform despite protests

PARIS - The French Senate has approved the controversial pension reform which has sparked protests throughout the country with 195 votes in favor and 112 against. Just yesterday a seventh national strike took place throughout France against this same reform project presented last January 10 by Prime Minister Elisabeth Born which provides for the raising of the retirement age and the abolition of 'special' regimes for a number of difficult professions. The bill specifically provides for the raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64 with a gradual increase of three months a year starting from 1 September 2023. In this way, the reform will be completed by 2030. According to the Interior Ministry, nearly 370,000 people took part in the protests, of which around 50,000 demonstrated in Paris.