France a war behind Belgium
With great noise and lots of banners, the French got angry because they would have to work longer before they could go to pension. Currently, the legal retirement age in France is 62 years old. In 2027 it is expected to rise to 63 and in 2030 to 64.
From our small Belgium, it is amusing to observe this agitation and these fears which cross our neighbors of the republic of beyond-Quièvrain. Because in 2030, in our country, the legal age for declaring oneself a permanent pensioner will be 67 years old… Inevitably, French-style jeremiads have the air of little whining compared to what we are experiencing in Belgium.
Please note that the debate is not over for us. Quite the contrary. Issues relating to the treatment of women, special diets or, more broadly, the sustainability of aging are far from being resolved and they augur well-known rat races. But on the starting age, we can boast of having a head start.
And this is not the only subject that Belgium manages to resolve without creating a societal divide. Abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage… France may have two stars, but on social issues, it is often a war behind Belgium.