Sébastien Le Belzic (in Wuhan), edited by Gauthier Delomez
modified to
06:34, February 16, 2023
The Chinese government is considering a reform of the pension system, which notably provides for a reduction in the monthly health insurance allowance. Europe 1 went to Wuhan, where several thousand retirees took to the streets to protest for the second time since early February, under close police surveillance.
Videos posted on social media show several thousand retirees gathered outside a park in Wuhan. In a rather good-natured atmosphere, they sing theInternational under the surveillance of hundreds of policemen. This is the second protest this month in this central Chinese city, where across the country pensioners are rising in anger over a health insurance reform that plans to cut two-thirds of their allowance for medical expenses.
2月15日上午，武汉和大连同时爆发了反医保改革游行示威。
两地民众不约而同地唱起了国际歌
据悉 ， 此前 此前 2 月 8日 的 武汉 反医保 改革 游行 示威 中 ， 曾 人 人 声称 声称 如果 如果 不 问题 ， 将 在 在 2 月 15日 进行 更 规模 规模 的 的 的 游行 游行 游行 游行 游行 的 的。 的 的 的 的 游行 的 的 的 的 的 游行 的 的 pic.twitter.com/uLpiH8yh2g— 李老师不是你老师 (@whyyoutouzhele) February 15, 2023
This allowance is part of the pension system that is being completely overhauled, in a country that is facing the accelerated aging of the population.
武汉市民针对医保改革，今天发起了第二次集会。 pic.twitter.com/Cm3vXaFMyI
— 王局志安 (@wangzhian8848) February 15, 2023
Budgets undermined by the “zero Covid” policy
Health expenditure has tripled in 20 years in China, and the elderly whose pensions are very modest are struggling to finance them. Moreover, the “zero Covid” policy has made the situation worse, forcing the provinces to spend a huge amount of money to ensure testing and the containment policy. Some cities have even seen their “Covid-19 budget” exceed the amount of their health budget. They must therefore now save money, provoking the anger of part of the population.