Allies of French President Emmanuel Macron signalled on Monday that he will push ahead with raising the retirement age despite a possible wave of strikes.
It came as unions warned Mr Macron against unleashing a “social conflict” by lifting the pension age from 62 to 65.
Several of France’s biggest unions were expected to meet on Monday to discuss the looming dispute.
But supporters of Mr Macron said his flagship reform was necessary to safeguard the welfare state.
“We cannot maintain a contributory pension system when we take on 100 billion euros of debt in the next few years,” said Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is expected to present a draft text to MPs on December 15.
Aurore Berge, the leader of Mr Macron’s party in parliament, rejected calls to water down the reform.
“We have to hold the line at 65,” she told France 3 television.
“We need a reform that is understandable, simple and fair.”
Mr Macron promised to raise the pension age during April’s presidential election campaign.
But his party lost its majority at parliamentary elections in June, meaning it will have to find support beyond his own ranks.
It will face robust opposition from left-wing MPs and unions who say it will add to cost of living problems.
Laurent Berger, the secretary-general of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour union, said workers would mobilise if the pension age is raised.
“I say this to the President and Prime Minister: listen to the world of workers,” Mr Berger said.
“Be careful not to create a great social conflict in January because you didn’t listen to the unions.”
The far-right National Rally, which has 89 seats, also opposes the pension reform.
Its former leader Marine Le Pen made it a key policy of her campaign against Mr Macron in April.
Philippe Ballard, a National Rally MP, said the funding gap for pensions was nothing compared to the debt incurred under Mr Macron’s presidency.
“Stop giving us lessons,” he said.
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
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4/5 stars
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The specs
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
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Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
The national orchestra
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
