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Thousands of French pensioners took to the streets to protest against a possible rise in the retirement age and to demand higher pay-outs, weeks before regional elections in mid-March.
The demonstrations all over France gave a taste of what is to come, as unions have announced mass protests against President Nicolas Sarkozy's planned reform of the costly pension system this year.
"I'm thinking of my granddaughters," said Parisian Henri Tronchon, a retired metal worker and one of the protesters. "I don't want them to say one day, 'you let them destroy all the things you had gained."
Sarkozy has described the reforms as painful but necessary given tight public finances as well as the longer-term needs of an ageing society.
While he has ruled out a cut in pension pay-outs, a rise in the retirement age from the current 60 years is looking more and more likely. Most French, however, oppose that option.
Carrying banners saying "Mistreated pensioners", the protesting retirees demanded a minimum pay-out of around $3,1200 a month.
Unions say four million French pensioners out of a total of 14 million receive less than 900 euros per month - just above the poverty line at around $1,595.
Therese Martin, a retired teacher at the demonstration, said she survived on $1,470 per month.
"I pick up cut-price food at the end of the market day to save money," she said.
Sarkozy has argued that a financial overhaul is needed if the system is to be saved. A draft bill is supposed to be ready by September, after negotiations with unions and employers.
However, the president has already said that he will not push through the reforms by force.
He had hoped to delay the unpopular measure until after the next presidential election in 2012, but the economic crisis sapped state finances and forced him to bring the plan forward.
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