Paris, France (AHN) – French citizens poured into the streets on Saturday protesting President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to raise the retirement age.

Demonstrators ranging in number from 825,000 to 3 million marched in the streets of Paris and nearly 200 other cities in unified protest.

The Chamber of Deputies previously approved a pension reform package that would raise the minimum age for receiving a government pension from 60 to 62 and the age for a full pension from 65 to 67. The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday however unions are calling for another national strike for Tuesday.

Additionally, Francy is also experiencing a strike by oil refinery and rail workers. The workers have been on strike for five days and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris may be out of fuel by Tuesday.

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde issued a statement calling for calm, “There is no reason to panic over this. I am sure that we will unblock the situation through intelligent social dialogue.”

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