May 1 in France began with a protest for the pension reform

At the behest of France’s big unions, 13 mass protests against the reform began in many cities, including the capital, Paris, Strasbourg, Marseille, Toulouse, Vannes, Rouen and Rennes.

A total of 12,000 police officers, 5,000 of whom will be in Paris, will be on duty to ensure security at the demonstrations, which are expected to be attended by more than 1 million people across the country.

The RATP, the agency responsible for public transport in and around Paris, closed many train and metro stations due to the protests.

Also, it is expected that there will be 25-33% disruption in air transport due to strikes and demonstrations.

DRONE OBJECTION REJECTED

The Bordeaux Administrative Court also rejected the objection raised against the use of drones by the police in demonstrations.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had instructed police chiefs to use drones to gather intelligence on demonstrations.

“DO NOT TEST THE POLICE”

Speaking to French radio RTL, Paris police chief Laurent Núñez announced that they had heard that some 2,000 far-left militants would take part in the demonstrations.

Núñez stated that these people, some of whom come from outside, will carry out acts of violence, and said that no matter who they are, these people will face harsh police intervention.

Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, one of the largest unions in the country, called on the government not to provoke the police into the demonstrations.

In many previous demonstrations, right-wing extremists and plainclothes police were alleged to have engaged in provocative actions by mingling with the protesters.

Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt told French BFMTV that he would send invitations to CGT representatives in the coming days to start talks with the government.

THE Draft that raised the country

Massive demonstrations broke out in France on March 16, following the government’s decision to pass the bill, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, without a vote.

There was violence in many parts of the country between the police and protesters, who responded harshly to the demonstrations.

More than 1,000 people have been detained in protests across the country since March 16.

The Constitutional Council, to which the opposition and the government turned to to determine if the reform complied with the constitution, approved the article of the bill that raised the retirement age to 64 years, and rejected all 6 articles in whole or in part .

The bill was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and published in the Official Gazette. (AA)