The RT reporter is as dumb as the French media and that stupid government. There is no overhaul of our pension system possible except ripping off those who have spent their life working. The young Frenchmen see what kind of future is coming for them; They are no fools. Already 25% of the under 25 have no job and it will get worse. As I explained before having retirement and unemployment benefits you need to have constructive revenues (Producing goods which are exported. Ours industries under Sarkozy brothers and the MEDEF did the opposite). When you delocalise and send your technology in other countries you loose everything. The decisions-makers, their bankers, their stocks-holders and those creeps-politicians increase the productivity and make more profits (Sarkozy want to be billionaire). Those greedy creeps have to pay and the jobs must come back in France or at least in Europe; there is no other way. As far as the 500 millions $ lost daily, it is an other lie and a way to make people feel bad. In our modern days' politics it is called: communication and RT fall for it (you have been used). Thursday, with pride, I shall go to support my young friends...Honestly Russia Today disappoint me. My friends, you are on the wrong side. Try to be wiser in Russia ! Sincerely...Jean-Claude Meslin

Your language is so strange -- why not say that this shows that the working people of France create about $500 milion a day in wealth? Working people, who produces ALL the real property, thus ALL the surplus that the financiers have, which they have used to finance things like Bush's stupid wars, are to be forced to pay for the stupidity of the financiers by being forced to work for 2 more years in France, the home of the bourgeois revolution, and so the very people who create the wealth are accused of destroying it. Rich. that is so puking rich, its not digestible.

Such a condescending tone, and poorly researched. No derogatory language please! I can understand, as does anyone with any sense, that street actions and damage that this causes to the society, is the last thing one would look forward to. Strikes, rebellions and revolutions are failures of the society and indicate a social problem. Tranquility of the society is gone, and much is put into jeopardy. But in this case the government is the only one that insists on its righteousness, while at the same time violating the law. No wonder many feel it is their CIVIC DUTY to stand up to being robbed. Your article is WRONG ON FACT. The reason why French retirement of MEN is lower then in other European countries, is because French worker works LONGER each year then their counterparts. With each worked hour, he contributes to the retirement trust fund, and therefore, it takes fewer years to earn the retirement annuities. Women's retirement age is not higher then in Germany and other countries. French worker works 1,453 hours a year. In Germany and Norway, the worker works 1,337, and in Sweden 1,316, while in Netherlands it is 1,309. French workers' productivity has risen FIVEFOLD since sixties, and in the same time, there was a 10% shift of earnings from salaries to profits! France has sixth largest public debt in Europe. And much of the increase in that debt can be attributed to three things Sarkozy did during his presidency. He is supporting insane high number of employees with EU, and their incredibly high salaries. He pushed Germany and others into making unreasonably high committments to salvaging financial black hole, and added a huge debt to France as well. He has made huge committments to military industry after integrating France into NATO. All of these add up to trillions of dollars. Without even pretending to examine the fraudulent banking practices, he is "fixing" pension system, that DID NOT need fixing.

I support the French. $500 million per day? Really? How did they come up with those numbers! RT is a disappointment and just another establishment tool. I am American and I support the French protests. The French should protest until the government goes broke then start from scratch.

This reporter continues saying nonsense. How can she say that students are making the manifestation and at the same time says that the country is loosing 500 million a day? If the economy is collapsing it's only because because the working class is stagnated! How can students in vacation cost 500 million a day? RT is changing into regular media in my opinion. French people don't give up! You are an example.