The French streets ‘burn’ for the pension reform: similarities and differences of the future retirement in France with that of Spain

The French got up one day on a war footing because they didn’t even have bread and they changed the world. It was in 1789. It would be said that that revolution left its mark on French genetics and since then its citizens have not allowed anyone to step on their rights. Something like that we usually think on this side of the Pyrenees every time we see French citizens taking to the streets be it shouting, with cobblestones or with yellow vests.

We saw him again last night. Thousands of people took to the streets spontaneously to protest against the pension reform that the President of the Republic has approved. As does not have a clear majority among the deputies (in June it lost the majority absolute), Emmanuel Macron has done so by decree and without a vote in the National Assembly.

The outrage over what and for the how They led thousands of French to demonstrate in different cities of the country. Street furniture was burned and law enforcement intervened to disperse the protesters.

We have already talked about how -France is a republic that grants enormous powers to the president-, but this time we are concerned with what. Macron has decided delay the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030 and advance to 2027 the requirement to contribute 43 years (and not 42 as up to now) to collect a full pension.

The president assures that his reform is necessary; that the system does not give more than if, although many demographers disagree. The truth is that, according to polls, two out of three French people oppose. That is why there are many who take to the streets to protest and many who support these mobilizations from home.

In Spain we do not stop seeing it with a good dose of amazement and another dose of envy. Because the French refuse to raise the ordinary retirement age from 62 to 64, when here it is 66 years and 4 months. It is not the only difference.

Retirement age

France

It has (had?), together with Sweden and Slovakia, the lowest retirement age in the European Union. The ordinary age was 62 years. But to obtain 10% you must have contributed for 42 years. From the age of 65 they receive 100% of the pension, regardless of the number of years of contributions.

Spain

The ordinary age is 66 years and 4 months, which will rise to 67 from 2027. Any Spaniard who has contributed for 38 and a half years will be able to retire at 65.

Years to contribute

France

It is required to have contributed 42 years to collect one hundred percent of the pension. The reform would increase the period to 43 years from 2027. However, from the age of 65 a certain number of years of contribution is not required to collect the entire corresponding pension.

Spain

To have 100% of the pension we must have contributed for 36 and a half years (it will be 37 as of 2027). If we are younger, our pension is calculated according to 100% of the regulatory base.

Double listing

France

In the neighboring country there are two regimes. The basic and the compulsory complementary. The first is similar to our Social Security and the other a point system. The quotes are translated into points that are accumulated. When a French citizen retires, half of his pension comes from these quoted points and the other half from what is quoted for the basic pension.

Spain

There is no double regimen. We only contribute to Social Security through payroll, which collects a discounted percentage monthly.

calculation period

France

They use the best 25 years of working life to calculate the amount. Added to this is the mandatory complementary according to the points accumulated while working.

Spain

Here -until the recent reform- the last 25 years of contributions were counted. Now there will be a double system and you can choose (at least until 2044) what is most convenient: the last 25 years of your career or the last 29, discarding the 24 worst months.

Retirement age in Europe

It is not easy to summarize the retirement and pension systems of the European Union. There is a lot of diversity and complexity. From the Swedish fork (from 62 to 68 years) to the differentiation they make between women and men who make several nations. Then, each country, each system, includes a long list of exceptions and specificities.

Many, the vast majority, have approved retirement age extensions for future years. In general, these are the current ages: