Sarkozy defies French pension protestors

French President Nicolas Sarkozy remained defiant Wednesday after massive street protests against his plan to raise the retirement age from 60, vowing to push on with an "essential" reform.

　　"The main element of this reform is a new retirement age. This age will be gradually raised ... to reach 62 in 2018," Sarkozy said in a statement. "There is no question of backtracking on this point."

　　Sarkozy reiterated that he would include in the reform special exceptions for those who start work younger than 18 and for certain physically demanding jobs, in his first reaction to Tuesday's mass protests.

　　Former French Prime Minister Alain Jupp explained that with living standards improving, French people now live 10 years longer than when the current pension laws were passed.

　　"People feel uncomfortable when things change, and the way French people express their discomfort is to go on strike or demonstration," Jupp said during a visit to Beijing this week.

　　Agencies, Liu Chang contributed to this story

Source: Global Times