Global General

France's Sarkozy: We'll crack down on protests

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-19 19:25

French high school students face anti-riot gendarmes during a student demonstration at the Place de la Republique in Paris Oct 19, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pledging to crack down on "troublemakers" attacking police at protests against a proposed higher retirement age.

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He also says blockages of oil refineries that have sparked gas shortages "cannot exist in a democracy" where "there are people who want to work."

He insists it's his "duty" to pass pension reform, despite nationwide strikes and violent protests.

Sarkozy says demographics and people's increasing life expectancy have made raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 a necessity and stressed that other European nations have already made similar changes.

Sarkozy was speaking Tuesday at a press conference in the French city of Deauville with the leaders of Russia and Germany.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy speaks during a joint news conference attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Deauville October 19, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]