France: New protests against Macron’s pension reform

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Police expect 600,000 to 800,000 people on the streets, 90,000 to 120,000 of them in Paris

For the fourth time in less than a month, the French have been called to the streets to protest against the pension reform promoted by the government of President Emmanuel Macron.

“If we exceed one million, it will be a success,” said Laurent Berger, head of the CFDT union.

The police, for their part, expect 600,000 to 800,000 people on the streets, of which 90,000 to 120,000 in Paris.

From the beginning of the mobilizations against this reform, which is currently the subject of intense debates in the National Assembly, the participation was great.

On Tuesday, the previous day of demonstrations, 757,000 to 2 million people participated in the demonstrations, while on January 21, 1.27 million to 2.5 million had participated.

Macron stresses that this reform, which will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, is “vital” to ensure the sustainability of the pension system.

The government has expressed its determination to proceed with the reform, but over time it has accepted some modifications that do not change its core.

Moreover, the statements of the French president from Brussels yesterday Friday provoked a strong reaction from the unions.

In a rare statement on the matter, Macron asked the organizers of the demonstrations to maintain “a spirit of responsibility” so that “disagreements can be expressed, but calmly, with respect for property and people and with the intention of let not the life of the rest of the country be hindered.”

For his part, the head of the CGT union, Philippe Martinez, spoke of possible “harder, more numerous, more massive and repeated strikes”.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne on Thursday again defended the reform, stressing that it is necessary to “secure the future of the pension system”.

The government does not have the majority in the National Assembly to pass this reform and relies on the support of the traditional right to do so, but for now this is not a given.

RES-EMP

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