Is the cycle of protests coming to an end? France Against pension reform? The French unions held the 14th and perhaps the last day of this Tuesday. strikes And demonstrations against the rise the minimum retirement age is between 62 and 64 (with 43 years of premiums to receive full pension). Between 900,000 peopleby unions and 281,000rallied across the country against the unpopular measure, according to police. It represented the fewest days of mass protests in the last six months, when the bustling neighboring country experienced the biggest wave of mass demonstrations of the 21st century.
After a successful May 1 for unions — Labor day With more demonstrators since 2002—the decline in mobilization shows the following signs: burnout It’s in this five-day cycle of protests that the number of protesters is more than a million (or more), according to Interior Ministry data. It also illustrates the difficulties of taking action after the measure was approved—through a controversial government decree—and enacted after the first articles appeared in the official gazette last weekend.
Parties loyal to Macron ramp up maneuvers to avoid Thursday’s vote on a bill that would repeal the unpopular measure
“This final manifestation Laurent Berger, general secretary of the CFDT, the French union with the largest membership, agreed on Tuesday from the front rows of the protest procession in Paris. “The mobilization will continue on the last day of the mobilization,” said Sophie Binet, the head of the CGT, and that despite these new contradictions, the head of the second union organization in the country said “We will continue to be together”.
The bill repealing the reform
This unitary coalition of all trade unions – unusual in France – is the 14th anniversary of the protests this Tuesday. look at the national assembly. An opposition bill calling for repeal of the increase in the statutory retirement age is scheduled for debate in the lower house on Thursday. However, parties loyal to President Emmanuel Macron have stepped up their maneuvers in recent weeks to prevent the text from being voted on (or emptied of its substance).
Last week, the parliamentary Social Affairs Committee decided against the main article of this bill. Yaël Braun Pivet, head of the National Assembly, has already said he will oppose the law. LIOT-based group, supporter of this bill, reintroduce the suspension of the age of 64 through an amendment. Some unusual decisions in the French legislative process that will preserve democratic rarity, one of the iconic measures of Macron’s second term. Not voted in Parliamenthere macronism does not have an absolute majority and there is no guaranteed support for pension reform.
“The government is using all the tricks to ensure that this reform is not subject to democratic deliberation,” complains Fabrice Esteve, 57, a professional education teacher and CGT militant who was present at the demonstration in Paris. “about a bad symbol Agnès, 71, a retired judge and member of the Judges’ League, added from the same protest: “He has criticized a political system that concentrates the vast majority of powers in the hands of the president.
“There are fewer protesters”
Between 300,000 people, by unions and 31,000According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he paraded on the boulevards river gourd Parisian. There was a peaceful and festive atmosphere throughout most of the show. However, classic conflicts between riot police and police black blocks at the beginning of the protest. These ultra-left agitators smashed some shop windows and set street furniture on fire. Police reported 17 detainees In the capital, according to partial data for a less busy day than May 1 or March 23.
“There are far fewer protesters,” said Lu, 25, a 25-year-old municipal official, carrying a banner warning that “without[reform]withdrawal, there will be no Olympic Games.” In fact, a group of trade unionists full morning Olympic Games Organizing Committee headquarters Paris to do next year.
Despite the decrease in the number of protesters and the possible retirement age implementation, many protesters preferred to see the glass half full. “Through these protests, union ideas about work or wages have advanced in public,” Lu argued. He talked about the numerous sectoral strikes that workers from various companies have achieved (or are trying to achieve) in recent months. notable salary increases. This happened to the workers of the textile company Vertbaudet, which saw a 7% increase after the two-month strike, as well as the workers of the SNCF railroad, Amazon and even Disneyland. A consolation prize for the French union wave.