Czech government backs pension reform proposal

Protesters march during a demonstration of the KOVO trade union against changes in the pension system considered by the government in Prague, Czech Republic on March 29, 2023. Some 2,000 protesters gathered Wednesday in front of government offices in Prague to voice their opposition to the plan.

We definitely don't agree, read a letter ratified at the gathering. We will defend ourselves, according to Roman Durco, head of the KOVO labor union group that organized the rally.

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Marian Jurecka appeared to backpedal on the original pension reform proposal, but his ministry said in a statement that the retirement age raise remains on the table.

The pension reform plan is not finalized yet by the government, which says it is necessary to make the system viable.

Leaders from opposition parties with and without seats in parliament took part in the demonstration, including Andrej Babis, the populist billionaire chief of the centrist ANO YES party, the anti-migrant Direct Democracy Party and the far-left Communist Party.

Babis, a former prime minister, called on unions to stage large protests, pledging his support.

In France, a plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 caused massive nationwide protests.