“We restrict ourselves on food”, retirees demonstrate in Loire-Atlantique and Vendée

Monday 02nd December 2024 09:42 PM

Retirees are in the streets this Tuesday in Loire-Atlantique and Vendée. Gatherings are planned for the morning in Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Châteaubriant, La Roche-sur-Yon and Les Sables d'Olonne. A mobilization at the call of several unions to demand an increase in retirement pensions. The question of retirees also makes its way into political news. With this ultimatum posed, this Monday, by Marine Le Pen, of the National Rally, to Michel Barnier, the Prime Minister: renounce the deindexation of pensions to inflation to avoid the motion of censure. The Prime Minister did not give in and triggered 49.3 on the Social Security financing bill. Two motions of censure will therefore be tabled: one by the New Popular Front, the other by the National Rally.

Demonstrations of retirees in Loire-Atlantique and Vendée

Several retiree unions are calling for demonstrations this Tuesday in Loire-Atlantique and Vendée. François Préneau is the spokesperson for this inter-union. “The average pension for a woman is 1,500 euros. And 1,900 euros for a man. There are many retirees who are below”. He wants to break the stereotypical image of the retired owner without financial difficulties. “They often don't have to pay rent because they are owners, but there are a lot of charges. As soon as something needs to be changed in the home, it is extremely expensive. And at that point, the expense becomes very significant.” According to him, many retirees can no longer stand being considered privileged. “They dreamed of this period, telling themselves that they will enjoy retirement. And today, we are very far from what they hoped for. It can even be a hassle and we find that it is profoundly unfair” .

“We restrict ourselves on food”—Gilbert, a retiree

Some retirees have difficulty making ends meet. Like Gilbert, 64, met during a game of pétanque in Bouaye. He perceives a retirement pension of 1,200 euros per month and pays rent of 600.”We stick out our tongues', says the white-haired man. “We restrict ourselves on food. We deprive ourselves a little, we eat a little more noodles. I sometimes even have to collect rainwater to put in the toilet to avoid paying additional taxes.”says the retiree before throwing his pétanque ball.

France