They started again today at France strikes and demonstrations that want to paralyze France in protest of reforming the system retirement of Emmanuel Macron, a few days before its possible approval by the French parliament.

Unions are also predicting more unusual strike action: closed shops, open toll booths, blocked roundabouts, canceled shows, actions reminiscent of the “yellow vest” protests of 2018-2019.

Hundreds of thousands on the streets – Chaos in transport and energy

Today’s sixth day of protests is expected to have a massive turnout and will be a major test for the French government, which wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 to secure funding for the pension system, which is a pillar of the social model ala French.

This sixth day of protest includes repeated strikes in many areas, from transfers to refineries, the energy sector, trade or waste management and demonstrations that are expected to be characterized by mass participation.

Opponents of the reform denounce an “unfair” plan, which mainly punishes wage earners in heavy occupations, and is widely condemned in opinion polls.

CFDT general secretary Laurent Berget predicted a day of “extremely strong mobilisations” and called on Emmanuel Macron “not to turn a deaf ear” to the protests, while Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne warned of the consequences for the most vulnerable French of her paralysis. country.

The first major action of the day was the exclusion of all refineries of France, a representative of the CGT-Chimie union told AFP, assuring that the refineries of TotalEnergies, EssoExxonMobil and Petroineos are under blockade.

Last night, protesters began blocking the main road in Rennes in western France.

On January 31, unions claimed to have taken to the streets of 2.5 million protesters across the country (1.27 million according to the authorities).

According to a police source, 1.1 to 1.4 million people are expected to take to the streets today. The CGT union is calling for 265 rallies across the country.

Poll after poll, the French remain overwhelmingly opposed to the reform, despite seeing it eventually implemented.

“Black Week”

The company of the French railways SNCF and the transport of the French capital expect major disruptions in the traffic today, but also tomorrow.

In air transport, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGAC has asked airlines to reduce their flight schedules by 20% to 30% for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The road transport sector is also participating in the protests, in some cases since Sunday evening.

In the education sector, the primary education union Snuipp-FSU predicts that 60% of teachers will join the strike and many thousands of schools are closed today. Mobilizations are expected in twenty university institutions.

The general secretary of CGT Energie predicts a “black week” in the energy sector, with a reduction in production, mainly in the nuclear sector. Three of the four terminals that allow the import of liquefied natural gas into France have been closed for seven days. Democratic legitimation

A government source said that a mobilization corresponding to the first day of action, on January 19, is expected, with the participation of 1.12 million people, according to the authorities.

The government expects the Senate to approve the reform by Sunday and plans a March 16 vote in both houses of the French Parliament.

“If the reform is approved, it is not very likely that the mobilizations will be maintained at the same level,” says the government source who is waiting for the release of the most moderate unions.

But Laurent Esquire, of the Unsa trade union, warned yesterday that strike action would not necessarily end with the passage of the bill. “A law that has been adopted can be withdrawn.”

“I think it is important: when laws are passed by parliament, there is significant democratic legitimacy,” Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne replied.