'There were riots': Chris Sununu buried for falsely claiming France raised retirement age 'without a problem'

14 May 2023

New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu, during a Sunday interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki, claimed "other countries" like France and Chile have raised the retirement age without any backlash — but that's not the case.

Several GOP lawmakers have shared their opinion that the United States, too, should consider raising the retirement age, and President Joe Biden has expressed his disagreement.

@InsidewithPsaki shared a clip of the pair's conversation via Twitter, writing, ".@jrpsaki: 'Would you be open to raising the retirement age?' @GovChrisSununu: 'I think if someone wants to move the retirement age – look, did they do it in France? Did they do it in Chile? They did it in all these other countries without a problem.'"

The governor continued, "Now, do you have to move it to 70? No, I don't think you have to go that far. The retirement age hasn't moved in decades, I think you know better than I. But there are just a lot of other doors that have to be addressed and talked about."

Sununu, who has teased his interest in announcing a 2024 bid, failed to mention France raised the retirement age — but not without consequence.

President Emmanuel Macron's decision to raise the age from 62 to 64 occurred amid protest.

Last month, CNBC reported:

Long traffic jams formed in cities including Marseille on Friday as crowds gathered around the country to hear the court decision. Protesters made their way into the headquarters of luxury goods giant LVMH and lit smoke flares on Thursday — the same day the company's share price reached a fresh record high, following the release of its first-quarter results.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the leftist La France Insoumise party, per a Reuters translation said,"The Constitutional Council decision shows that it is more attentive to the needs of the presidential monarchy than to those of the sovereign people. The fight continues and must gather its forces."

Additionally, regarding retirement age in the United States, last year CNBC also reported, Congress "approved a retirement bill that would push out the age for required minimum distributions on certain savings accounts to 75, up from the current age of 72," adding, "That change, if it passes the Senate, would be gradually phased in by 2032."

Some Twitter users immediately called out the 2024 hopeful on his false claims.

Morgan Fairchild: "Without a problem? There were RIOTS in France…"

@DocKimResists: Gov Sununu on #Inside with Jen Psaki is so uniformed. Yes, France raised the retirement age - but people rioted in the streets! US retirement age has been increased in the past. The Governor is a charming politician, but look past that & see he’s clueless. #HandsOffSocialSecurity

Bob McIntyre: Governor 'SuNoNo.' Gov. - In France, there was a 'problem.'"

Lizzie Starbuck: "Ok but how about LOWERING the age of retirement and giving our jobs to young people so we can enjoy what little health we have left? But no, republicans want to work us till we die. Remember when they tried to make the argument we were expendable?"

Dr. Michelle Henesy: "He and I have different ideas of the phrase 'without a problem'"

Watch the video below or at this link.

CNBC's full report is available at this link.

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