Russians do not want to increase the retirement age: today, women retire with 55 years and men with 60 years | International

Tens of thousands of Russians participated Saturday in demonstrations organized throughout the country by the Communist Party to protest against a government project to increase the age of retirement, which provides for to gradually increase retirement Currently women retire at age 55 and men at 60 which would be respectively 63 and 65 years old.

In Moscow, 100,000 people according to the organizers (10,000 according to journalists), participated in a demonstration against the reform, which is still under debate in parliament

Protesters chanted slogans such as "Putin , do not touch our retirement! " and some carried placards asking "

There were also demonstrations in other cities, such as in St. Petersburg, the second in Russia, where a thousand people went down the streets, some with portraits of Stalin.

In Novosibirsk, Western Siberia, the state news agency Tbad spoke of 1,200 protesters, citing data from the city council. [19659002] The demonstrations, unusual in measures that have the approval of President Vladimir Putin, also made their entry ternet, with a petition that garnered 2.9 million signatures

Putin had not spoken of this measure during the election campaign that led to his reelection in March.In July, his popularity fell from 80% in May to 64%, according to the Russian think tank.

"Many of people believed Putin when he said that he was not the only there would be no pension reform. But it was demagoguery. I am very disappointed, "said Irina Ivanova, a 49-year-old St. Petersburg protester.

The bill plans to gradually increase the age of retirement for the first time In 90 years currently women retire at age 55 and men at age 60, which would bring them to 63 and 65 respectively.

Putin said last week that he did not like the idea but that it was necessary "to make decisions"

Those who oppose the measure also argue that, given the 39, life expectancy of men in Russia (66 years), many will not be able to enjoy retirement

"They will come to the age of retirement in the coffin," said Guennadi Ziouganov, head of the Communist Party, at a rally in Moscow on Saturday. "It's a blow to the citizens of our country," he said.