On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular pension reform prompted new strikes at trains, schools, and refineries in France, as opponents took to the streets for a day of rallies.
The third day of union-backed protests since January 19 was expected to test the protest movement’s momentum, which has promised to stop Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age.
Philippe Martinez, the leader of the radical CGT union, warned that additional “numerous, massive, and rolling” strikes would occur if the government did not abandon the plan.
“If the government continues to refuse to listen, then things will have to escalate,” he declared as the march in Paris began.
Macron placed increasing the retirement age and pushing the French to work more at the center of his re-election campaign last year, but according to polls, two-thirds of the population is opposed to the reforms.
During a rowdy session of parliament on Monday, lawmakers began debating the change that would raise the age for a full pension from 62 to 64 and the required number of years of service for a full pension.
Last week’s demonstrations brought out 1.3 million people across the country while a first round on January 19 drew 1.1 million protestors, according to the police.
On Tuesday, a security source told AFP that between 900,000 and 1,1 million individuals are anticipated.
The gatherings are the greatest anti-government demonstrations since 2010, when right-wing former president Nicolas Sarkozy enacted pension reform.
There were confrontations in the western city of Nantes as protestors battled with security forces who deployed tear gas pellets, an AFP photographer said.
Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said Macron had to take notice of the mobilisation on the streets.
“You must be reasonable in a democracy unless he has become completely authoritarian,” he said, accusing Macron of attempting to begin his five-year tenure with a “show of force.”
‘REFORM OR BANKRUPTCY’
Trains and the Paris metro saw “severe disruptions” once more, and one in five flights at Orly airport south of the city were likely to be canceled.
It was anticipated that the level of disturbance, including in schools, was lower than on the previous two days of action.
The majority of long-distance trains were operating, according to the state railway company.
On Saturday, unions have scheduled a second day of action, however train unions have called for protests rather than strikes, so disruptions may be less severe.
Sylvain Magnan, 23, told AFP at the main station in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, “It’s fine, it’s manageable.” I simply boarded a later train.
One in two workers at oil refineries operated by the energy giant TotalEnergies has ceased working, according to the business, although gas stations had adequate supplies to withstand any temporary halt in delivery.
Macron’s ideas would move France closer to its European neighbors, the vast majority of which have retirement ages of 65 or higher.
However, the administration has struggled to explain the revamp as essential or fair, given that the system is already in balance and many economists believe that low-skilled workers will bear the brunt of the changes.
Monday in parliament, Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal stated, “Reform or bankruptcy”; his opponents criticized him for exaggerating.
Independent Pensions Advisory Council projections indicate a shortfall in the pension system over the next 25 years.
‘UNFAIR’
The adjustments would result in yearly savings of approximately 18 billion euros ($19.5 billion) by 2030, primarily as a result of encouraging individuals to work longer and eliminating special retirement programs.
In comparison to the size of its GDP, France’s pension spending ranks third among industrialized nations. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the country ranks first in terms of total public expenditures.
In order to pass the proposed law in parliament without resorting to contentious executive powers that circumvent the need for a vote, the government will have to rely on the right-wing Republican opposition party.
After the June elections, Macron’s allies are in the minority in the hung National Assembly.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on Sunday that persons who began working at age 20 or 21 will be permitted to leave a year early.
Eric Ciotti, the leader of the Republicans, has pledged his support, theoretically giving the government the necessary number of votes to approve the measure.
However, the left-leaning opposition group and Marine Le Pen’s far-right nationalist and Euroskeptic party are vehemently opposed and have submitted thousands of modifications.
Le Pen stated Monday in parliament that the government’s overhaul was “unfair” and “dictated by your desire to please the European Commission.”
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