Sarkozy refuses to back down after pension protests

Nicolas Sarkozy says there is “no question” of anyone “distorting” his pension reforms after more than a million people took to the streets in protest.

Sarkozy's plans to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018 sparked widespread consternation and industrial action across France on Tuesday.

Government agencies reported 1.12 million people held anti-reform protests, while unions claimed double that figure took to the streets. Unions yesterday called for another wave of strikes on 23 September.

But in a statement, Sarkozy said he was "attentive to the concerns that have been expressed," but that he would not back down.

The president offered some slight changes to his policy, such as allowing those who started work younger than 18 or worked in physically demanding jobs to retire earlier."