first day of protests France this autumn, marked by inflation and the energy crisis. Tens of thousands of people demanded demonstrations across the neighboring country this Thursday. Salary increase against inflation and unpopular reform pensions.
While not having the support of the CFDT (the organization with the most members) or the Force Ouvrière, more than 200 protests took place on a day of mobilization called by the three main Gallic unions, the CGT, FSU and Solidaires. . These protests were scrutinized by the Government of Emmanuel Macron, who believed it was a war. autumn without major protests In France, despite numerous factors fueling the discomfort.
The neighboring country recorded 5.9% inflation in August – the highest since the early eighties, but lower than the European Union average – but this was not offset by such salary increases. this Minimum wage increased by 2.65%, civil servant salaries increased by 3% In the private sector, the increases were much more modest.
More than 250,000 protesters
With advertisements “Raise our wages instead of misery” or “Work, work, beyond retirement age”, nearly 40,000 people took part in the demonstration, which ran through the streets of southern Paris until it finished on the Place de la, according to trade union organisations. bastille There were also parades with thousands of demonstrators in places like Marseille, Nantes, Caen or Rouen. Dominant in all festive atmosphere and no major disturbanceslike those that characterize the yellow vest rebellion. The day was accurately tracked—CGT announced more than 250,000 demonstrators across the country—but away from mass protests In the winter of 2019/2020, millions of French took to the streets against pension reform.
The Covid-19 pandemic was like a sleeping pill for the bustling French society. Since then, unions and social movements have not been able to mobilize en masse in a country where countless protests took place between 2018 and 2020, such as yellow vests, union protests, climate marches, feminists… neoliberal reform of the pension systemhow long will it last Minimum age of 65 years (with 43 contributions). It also has another controversial measure on the ramp-up that will cut compensation for the unemployed during periods of economic growth.
Rejection of pension reform
“The President does not care about mobilization, the only thing that interests you is to implement your program despite being selected in bad conditions (in a second round against the far-right Marine Le Pen), with record abstentions and uncommitted to his project,” Olivier, who was at the demonstration in Paris, told Liberation. “We don’t want to negotiate a delay in the retirement age,” warned CGT general secretary Philippe Martinez, questioning the executive’s purported will to negotiate with the unions. “If we say that’s what we want and do what we say now, we won’t be around the table for long.”
According to a recent survey, only 21% of French people support raising the minimum retirement age above 62. Despite this, the Macronist Executive wants to approve this measure before winter, which does not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Macron has warned that he is willing to dissolve Parliament if a no-confidence motion is approved to halt reform. “If the entire opposition unites to pass a no-confidence motion and overthrow the government, it will leave the decision to the French. what new majority do they want”, Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt confirmed in the LCI chain.