French minister tells Socialists pension reform will be bold

PARIS (Reuters) - French Social Affairs Minister Marisol Touraine told Socialist lawmakers on Tuesday the government would push ahead with plans to lengthen the mandatory pension contribution period, a contentious issue that the party opposes.

France is under pressure from its euro zone neighbours to deliver on promised reforms to boost competitiveness and cut spending, and Socialist President Francois Hollande has promised to tackle the country's indebted pension system.