Paris, France (CNN) The last time France reached for a universal pension system, Jacques Chirac was President, Alain Juppe was his prime minister and, like today, a wave of freezing cold weather had descended on the country. French Prime Minister Alain Juppé during a weekly parliament question and answer session in November 1995. After two million people took to the streets and nearly three weeks of near total paralysis, the pension reform was dropped -- and Juppe saved his premiership. Two years later right of center politicians lost the legislative power they would spend years fighting to regain. President Emmanuel Macron has announced reforms that would put an end to the 42 retirement schemes currently in place in France.

Source: CNN December 05, 2019 02:11 UTC