Wind strike continues in France

As the eighth of the mass strikes against France’s controversial pension reform begins, demonstrations will take place at more than 200 locations across the country.

While the bill on the reform, which contemplates raising the retirement age in the country from 62 to 64 years, began to be discussed in the Mixed Commission of French Senators and Deputies at 09:00 local time, the VIII Congress in against this reform with the participation of many unions, especially the General Union of Workers (CGT) The great strike has begun. According to reports in the French press, employees from different sectors, including energy, transport, refining and cleaning, went on strike in many cities, especially in the capital, Paris.

Within the framework of the strikes, where protests are expected in cities such as Lille and Marseille, in addition to the capital, throughout the country, according to regional intelligence data, between 650,000 and 850,000 people are expected to participate in the demonstrations in 230 different parts of the country, of which 50,000 to 80,000 are in Paris. Some train services were canceled due to the strike.

France’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) had asked airlines to cancel 20 percent of today’s flights at Paris Orly airport due to the controllers’ strike.

THE WASTE CRISIS IS GROWING IN PARIS

On the other hand, heaps of garbage formed in the streets of the capital Paris, due to the day of strike of the cleaning workers against the reform. The Municipality of Paris announced yesterday that more than 7,000 tons of garbage have accumulated in the streets of the capital.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on January 10 that the pension reform, which was among President Emmanuel Macron’s election promises, would be implemented. Noting that in the country where the retirement age is 62, the statutory retirement age will gradually increase by 3 months each year and will increase to 64 in 2030, starting on September 1, Borne said that in 2027, a 43 year premium payment requirement will be entered to receive the full pension.

There have been multiple strikes and protests across the country since January 19 against the controversial reform.

The Senate, which approved the most controversial article of the reform on March 9, “which plans to gradually increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years,” accepted the other articles of the reform on March 12.

The reform, discussed today in the Mixed Commission, will be put to a vote again in the Senate, after which it will be sent to the National Assembly for its final vote. The ruling wing, which does not have an absolute majority in parliament, has been trying to persuade lawmakers from the centre-right Republican (LR) party to support its reforms in recent days. (AA)