The pension reform proposals are widely contested in Paris and other French cities. The French government puts the number of protesters at 1.1 million, including 80,000 in Paris.
The CGT union even thinks that around 2 million people took to the streets. In the French capital alone, 400,000 people would be standing. In any case, there are more than during a previous mass protest in 2019 against pension reforms. The day of action is therefore considered a victory for the unions, who have already announced new protests, including a major one on January 31st.
Unions had previously expected between 50,000 and 80,000 protesters in Paris, but even more people have turned out according to a union official. It was very difficult with public transport due to the numerous buses, trains, trams and subways that were not working due to the strike. Public transportation has been largely in decline across the country.
Arrests
Paris police reported around 5pm that thirty people had been arrested. They carried weapons or threw things. Police fired tear gas at masked protesters near the Place de la Bastille.
In some places like Rennes, police have clashed with groups of protesters or rioters. A large protest march was also held on Marseille’s most famous avenue, La Canebière. Other major demonstrations were reported in Toulouse, Bordeaux, Brest, Grenoble, Le Havre, Lyon, Nantes, Nice and Rouen, among others. Unions were expecting 750,000 protesters across the country on Thursday.
Paralysis
If the demonstrations and strikes last for days, the country, as in the long conflicts over pension reform, risks paralyzing itself. The protesters are mainly against raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. Another sore point is the number of years you must have worked to be eligible for a full pension. President Emmanuel Macron’s government believes reform is necessary due to the growing number of retirees, who often live even longer than before.
French governments have struggled for decades with this reform and the mass protests against its plans. It is not possible to change the expensive and complicated system built by professional group. Macron has let a reform plan disappear into a drawer, mainly due to the fierce protests of 2020. A further problem is that his government no longer has a majority in parliament.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
