Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the protests in France over pension reform, framing the demonstrations as an internal matter for France. He shared these thoughts during a televised interview with Pavel Zarubin on the Russian state channel Russia 24.
Putin noted that France has its own policy priorities and that it is fundamentally up to Paris to determine how it adjusts its retirement system. He emphasized that the decision belongs to France and its citizens rather than to outsiders, pointing out that each nation manages its social security and retirement rules in its own way.
In discussing Russia’s approach, he reminded listeners that Russia maintains protections for several early-retirement and favorable exit regimes, but that those benefits do not exist in France. He suggested that residents of France perceive the current approach as overly strict, perceiving the reforms as a tough adjustment that affects many people who had relied on earlier retirement options.
According to Putin, the trend of pension reform is a global one, with many countries reassessing retirement ages and benefit structures. He highlighted that Russia is no exception and has implemented reforms, while also keeping a deliberate difference in retirement ages between men and women that stretches over several years.
Reports indicate that more than a million people gathered in France to protest the proposed raise in the retirement age, a number that the CGT union places at around 3.5 million when considering demonstrations across major urban centers. The size of the protests underscores how polarizing retirement policy can be and how it intersects with workers’ rights, public services, and fiscal plans.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the pension reform package, triggering widespread demonstrations and strikes. The material was undergoing review by France’s Constitutional Council, whose membership and eventual decision would shape the reform’s fate.
Despite ongoing industrial action, the government advanced the reform by approving a bill using Article 49.3 of the Constitution to push the retirement age from 62 to 64. This procedural move, while controversial, illustrates the political dynamics at play as lawmakers navigate public opinion, legal constraints, and long-term fiscal considerations.