Italians protest against pension reforms

Hundreds of thousands of Italians marched in Rome yesterday to protest against pension reforms planned by the centre-right coalition of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Organisers estimated the crowd at more than a million but police said the number was between 200,000 and 250,000.

The three main unions led marches that converged in Piazza San Giovanni, one of Rome's largest squares, and heard speeches by labour leaders. The marches and rally lasted four hours. Joined by leaders of the main centre-left opposition parties, demonstrators blew whistles, sang traditional labour songs and held banners reading "Let's Defend the Future".

"This is a big rip-off. I think this is just the first step for the government to try to take our pensions away when we are older and in favour of private pensions," said a protester who arrived on one of 3,000 special buses.

The government reform would prevent people retiring before they have made 40 years of contributions or reached a minimum age of 65 for men and 60 for women. At the moment, Italians can retire at 57 if they have paid into the system for 35 years.

Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini said yesterday's demonstration would not make the government change its mind about the need for pensions reform. "We are ready to talk to the unions but there will be no turning back," he said. Like France and Germany, Italy is trying to reform its pensions system, which accounts for about 15 per cent of gross domestic product - one of the highest levels in Europe.

That proportion is set to grow as low birth rates and longer life expectancy age the population, but unions argue that a 1995 reform was enough to avert any crisis. The government, whose reform is backed by industrialists, is also offering incentives for people to continue working after reaching retirement age.

"He (Berlusconi) should listen to the people," Guglielmo Epifani, head of the CGIL, with 5.5 million members the largest trade union, told Reuters Television during the demonstration.

Unions staged a four-hour strike in October to protest against the reforms and have warned of more stoppages. Yesterday's demonstration was also against the government's 2004 budget, which has to be passed by the end of this year.