In March, the government used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to force the bill through the French Parliament, sparking more protests and two failed no confidence votes, contributing to an increase in violence in protests alongside the union-organised strike action. France protests look to test government's resolve on pension reforms In France, very few workers have personal pensions linked to capital investments, but there are now only 1.7 workers paying into the shared pension fund per person in retirement. 2023 in France - Wikipedia [23] Euronews outlined that the reforms would lead to women retiring later and working, on average, seven months longer over the course of their life, while men would work around five months longer. How much pension you can claim will depend on a number of factors, but it will typically be calculated based on the EU . CNN pointed out that blue-collar workers are likely to start working at a younger age than white-collar workers; The Washington Post pointed out that a minor part[24] of those employed in 'physically or mentally demanding' jobs are still eligible to retire earlier with a full pension,[25] which Macron previously removed most exceptions for allowing them to depart early in case of work induced disabilties[fr] although The New York Times equally pointed to how this was a concession by the government to "mollify opposition", which overall has failed because unions view the increase in the retirement age as a "non-starter" and was later removed as result of passing the age rise as a financial law. [95]) The CGT also announced an extension to picket lines at Electricite de France. The French Defender of Rights noted on March 21 that "this practice may induce a risk of disproportionately resorting to custodial measures and fostering tensions. [73] Unions from SNCF, the national train operator, "urged workers to continue another continuous strike". France pension protests: Hundreds detained after French government forces through changes | CNN Hundreds detained in fiery protests after French government forces through higher retirement. French Police Face Scrutiny for Heavy Hand During Pension Protests - The New York Times French Police Face Scrutiny for Heavy Hand During Pension Protests An audio recording of officers. There was severe disruption to transport, with three-quarters of trains outside Paris cancelled and only two driverless metro lines operating normally in Paris. Violence hits France in day of anger over Macron's pension changes Several organizations, including human rights groups such as Reporters Without Borders and France's Human Rights League condemned France's crackdown on protests and also denounced the assault on journalists. Photos by Jrmy Paoloni/Abaca/Sipa USA A destroyed vehicle in a Paris street on June 30, 2023 after a . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [149], The union leaders' meeting with Borne on 5 April ended after about an hour after both sides insisted that the pension reform must respectively be cancelled or remain. 13.5 million (according to trade unions, depending on the days of demonstrations). At 62, France's retirement age is lower than most other countries in Western Europe. [32], An unauthorized protest on 15 April attracted over 1000 people to downtown Rennes and permitted two men to make off with 25,000 worth of gold bars and coins from a gold seller's shop. Eurostar announced that trains would run a normal service on 20 and 21 March, but there would be disruption to public transport in Lille on 20 March. France pension protests: Clashes after Macron orders rise in pension Unions buoyant as 1.27 million French protest pension reform - Yahoo News Union leaders exiting the meeting called for an eleventh day of protests to go ahead the following day. Protests Persist in France as Macron's Pension Law Nears Last Hurdle [9] In early January 2023 prior to consultation with unions, Prime Minister lisabeth Borne spoke on FranceInfo radio, stating that the government could "show flexibility" on the intention to raise the retirement age to 65, and were willing to explore "other solutions" that would enable the government to "reach its target of balancing the pensions system by 2030". "A lot of French people feel that working is more and more painful. crie la foule", " Louis XVI on l'a dcapit, Macron on peut recommencer! The marchers were "accompanied by a heavy security force" as they "moved through the Left Bank along unencumbered streets". [93], On RTL radio, Interior Minister "warned against what he called the chaos of random, spontaneous street demonstrations", describing "[t]he opposition is legitimate, the protests are legitimate, but wreaking havoc is not, and "denounced the fact that effigies of Macron, Borne and other ministers were burned at a protest in Dijon" and that ""public buildings had been targeted". [130] The Education Ministry stated that about 24% of primary and middle school teachers walked off the job, as well as 15% in high schools. [74] Inside the National Assembly, opposition MPs on the left booed and jeered the announcement[19] and sang the national anthem[75] in order to prevent Borne from speaking,[76] forcing the session to be briefly suspended before the announcement by Borne was made. [98], As of 19 March, Philippe Martinez from CGT had "urged" Paris collection workers to continue their now-two-week-long strike. France has seen a second wave of protests and strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. [100], The strike was suspended on 29 March due to declining participation, partly due to requisitions order by the Paris police.[182][183]. This pension is paid by the CNAV, the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Vieillesse, the French social security organization that manages the basic pension; or by the MSA, the agricultural social security, when the elderly person depends on the agricultural system. [35], On 19 January, the Ministry of the Interior counted 1.12 million demonstrators, including 80,000 in Paris. [28][29][30], In Chambry, "banners, sound systems, flags, and union tunics prepared for the 7 March demonstration went up in smoke" when fire was set to three vehicles parked in front of the Union hall. France's pension system is largely built on a "pay-as-you-go structure"; both workers and employers "are assessed mandatory payroll taxes that are used to fund retiree pensions". The DGAC warned of delays, reporting that 20% of the flights at Paris-Orly airport were cancelled. [117] Mlenchon "called on people to "express themselves everywhere and in all circumstances to force the withdrawal of the pension reform"". By late morning, there was large disruption to rail services across France, with SNCF saying that only one-in-three regional TER trains and one-in-two TGV or Ouigo services running. Protests in France over pension reform draw nearly 1 million 50% of salary) and the total period of insurance. A "crowd of students gathered to support the strikers" at the depot, with only "a slow dribble of very few rubbish trucks now passing each day" there. [120], The office of Prime Minister Borne announced late in the evening that she will "directly submit the text of the new law to France's Constitutional Council for a review", and that she hopes that "all the points raised during the debates can be examined"; referring, as France 24 says, to the challenges raised by some parliamentarians on the constitutionality of certain measures in the pension reforms. [20] The decision to invoke Article 49.3 was seen by those on the left as a "a major defeat and a sign of weakness" for the government, that would now be seen as "being brutal and undemocratic";[17] Antoine Bristielle, a representative of the Fondation Jean-Jaurs think tank, commented that using 49.3 is "perceived as a symbol of brutality" that could "erode support both for the government and democratic institutions". She visited the lyse presidential palace a short time after the government won the non-confidence votes. [162] 108 police officers were injured in the clashes, 19 seriously injured in Paris, and 291 protesters were arrested. 4 of 4 | . Teachers are angry at the state of schools. Some skirmishes were reported at the end of the Paris route in Place Vauban and 30 people were arrested. First published on Sun 8 Dec 2019 08.56 EST The French government has vowed to press ahead with its overhaul of the pensions system despite a hardening nationwide strike that will keep transport. "[202] Human Rights Watch told AFP it was very concerned about "what appears to be abusive police practices. Here's the latest information. But for all the mass mobilisation, it is still far from clear if the protesters can force Mr Macron to back down. April 6, 2023 French workers marched and went on strike around the country on Thursday for the 11th time in three months, as the stalemate between President Emmanuel Macron and labor unions endured. [137], The entrance to Paris-Panthon-Assas University, widely considered the top law school of France, was barricaded; France 24 commented this was "a sign of just how broad the protest movement has become". [63], On 11 February, a fourth day of national protests was held. [100] BBC News's Paris correspondent, Hugh Schofield, on 22 March, said that the protests in recent days had been "spectacular, sometimes, visually" but "not huge in terms of scale" and "mostly .. the work of very committed left-wingers, class-warrior types, who are leading the battle". Barricades were erected along the Rue de Rivoli. They said that "[m]inisters have said the government would not use the 49.3, widely condemned as undemocratic and which risks inflaming a volatile public mood" and that "[i]nstead, there has been a flurry of negotiations by ministers to guarantee a majority in the lower house"; "[u]nion leaders have said using the 49.3 would lead to a hardening of opposition and would escalate strikes". [19] Le Journal du Dimanche reported that Macron's approval ratings hit a low comparable to the Yellow Jackets protests. A risky bet. [8] News.com.au reported that "[m]ajor fuel shortages are also impacting service stations across the country due to protesters blocking major locations, with the biggest nationwide protest on record for France recorded this week, with rallies held in more than 200 separate areas". [156] Macron also stated that he wanted the Prime Minister, lisabeth Borne, to take measure on work, law and order, education, and health conditions and issues. French unions declared that further strikes and protests would be held on 31 January in an effort to halt the government's plans to raise the standard retirement age from 62 to 64. [131], Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT union said that "[t]here is a lot of anger, an explosive situation" at the start of a rally in Paris, as Reuters claimed that union leaders had "called for calm but were angry with what they called Macron's "provocative" comments". [124], In the morning, police had evacuated Paris 1 Panthon-Sorbonne University's Tolbiac campus, having been previously blockaded and barricaded by students (which has notorious precedent in that regard); an attendee mentioned that many young students there had spoken of their experiences of police violence. [83], Macron made no public comment on 16 March, but AFP reported that "he told a closed-door cabinet meeting: "You cannot play with the future of the country. [180] Originally set to last nine days, it was extended by another five on 15 March. Police explained this was due to "serious risks of disturbances to public order and security", and said those who did not obey this order could be fined. [100] On 20 March, Reuters also voiced that the tone of the protests had deteriorated to, and were "reminiscent" to, that of the Yellow Vest protest in recent days. [178][bettersourceneeded] Natasha Butler of Al Jazeera said the violence in recent days was "sporadic". Spearheaded by centrist group Liot, it was co-signed by NUPES,[83] with a total of 91 MPs from five different parliamentary groups signing. [97] Nevertheless, a bonfire was lit at the Place de la Concorde, with an effigy of Macron dropped onto it to cheers. [69], Elsewhere, in Rennes, Nantes, and Lyon, "[s]ecurity forces countered violence with charges and tear gas", according to French media. [15] Immediately after, LFI MPs shouted "Resign!" Stephane. 50 are still burning in the capital. French pension reform bill passes to Senate as tense parliament session ends. Prime Minister Borne declined formal mediation, but agreed to talks with eight leading union leaders the following week, when an eleventh day of protest was planned. [127], France 24 commented that unions had been "united in coordinating their protests", but that "many expressed fears they could lose control of the protests as more radical demonstrators set the tone". If not, it's weakening and if it's weakening, at some point, people will lose their pension," Mr Weissberg warned. [140] At around 2:40pm GMT, journalist Lewis Goodall claimed that "[t]he main demonstration route [in Paris] is full [and so] they're now filing onto every side street". A reporter claimed that police are deploying tear gas to push back the crowds, but it was ineffective due to the large number of people attending the protest. In Lyon, several streets were closed to traffic, public transportation was disrupted, and some parking was prohibited. [125], At lunchtime, Macron gave a televised interview, questioned by journalists from TF1 and France 2. Crisis24 reported that such disruptions will continue until 23 March, when the national strike will exacerbate service provision. The Week said that "Macron and his government insist the reforms are needed to keep the pension system solvent and government borrowing acceptably low". Locals chanted for Macron to resign and some heckled him. Italy, Germany and Spain have moved towards raising the official retirement age to 67, while in the UK it is 66. [134] Posters along the route of the demonstrations in Paris included those demanding a return to the retirement age of 60, and depicting Macron as Louis XVI. Hundreds of thousands protest across France against pension reform The minimum pension in France is around 634.66 per month for low-income earners and 833 per month for pensioners living alone. April 25, 2023, 9:54 AM As tensions over the government's pension reform continue to run high in France, the country's security forces are being accused of trampling on basic human rights in. [23] In Nice, the political office of the leader of the Republicans, ric Ciotti, was ransacked, with tags left that threatened riots if the party refused to support any of the motions of no-confidence in the government. A new date of strikes and protests has been set for 6 April at the end of the 10th day of mass protest over a controversial pension reform. As long as that remains the case, the government can ride out the opposition movement and see its bill quickly through parliament. Associated Press clarified that the "lavish Versailles, once the dazzling center of royal Europe, is a potent symbol of social inequalities and excess". [83] (DW reported on 18 March that CGT had already shut it down by Friday evening, however. How the Paris 2023 Protests are Impacting Travel - AFAR ", "Heavily armed riot police as far as the eye can see in central Paris", "The sheer magnitude, the number of people Macron has motivated to turn out on the streets of Paris is extraordinary. [189], Macron's proposal to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 has been compared to former President Nicolas Sarkozy's 2010 reform that raised the retirement age from 60 to 62, which also led to massive strikes and protests across France. A "couple" of rubbish bins were set alight, with the gathered protesters chanting "This will blow up". So far the protests have been good-humoured and generally peaceful. [114] The Times, on 19 March, wrote that the process being started would lead to the pension reforms being unable to be introduced until the referendum took place, "thwarting Macron's plans to start bringing in the changes from September and casting a shadow over the government's other work. #ReformedesRetraite", "Police clash with protesters at Paris demonstration against pension overhaul", "French protests: Violence erupts in Paris as police clash with protesters at Place de la Concorde", "France pension protests: Crowd clashes with police as government pushes through reform", "French unions see threat of Yellow Vest rerun over Macron's retirement push", "Violence erupts at French pension protests for 3rd night", "Protests resume across France after Macron forced through contested pension reform", "Paris police ban protest rallies in city's hotspots", "French protesters march past garbage piles, resisting Macron", "French government to face no-confidence vote over pension age rise", "Protests, violent clashes mount ahead of French no-confidence vote", "Le feu populaire est lanc la pleine!!! At other times on the march, fires in the streets ignited some of the uncollected piles of rubbish, with some small fires "visible from the junction of Rue Saint-Fiacre and Boulevard Poissonnire". [171], While Macron celebrated Victory Day, law enforcement banned gatherings in Paris and Lyon. "[85] He also claimed the reform had "no legitimacy neither in parliament, nor in the street". [25] In the latter, shop windows and bank fronts were smashed, for which "radical leftist groups" were partially blamed,[82] with shops looted. "Mr Macron is certain to lose," far-left leader Jean-Luc Mlenchon told reporters in Marseille. [193] The Guardian touched on political dissatisfaction, comparing the protests to that of the gilet jaunes, which "were initially against fuel tax rises but evolved to encompass a wider lack of trust in the political system". "[205][206], White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated "We support the right of people to protest and to express their opinions" when asked about the situation in France. [142] At around 4:05pm GMT, he tweeted that French TV were reporting 14 were arrested so far, presumably in Paris. Furthermore, she "expressed the government's 'solidarity'" towards the 400 police officers who were injured in recent days, with 42 alone overnight. It was claimed that police had "requisitioned garbage workers to clean up some neighborhoods". Hours before the main protest began in the Place d'Italie in central Paris, thousands of marchers turned out in Toulouse, Marseille and Nice in the south, and Saint Nazaire, Nantes and Rennes in the west. [181], On 18 March, the mayor of Paris' 12th district, Emmanuelle Pierre-Marie, said that the priority was food waste in the streets AP describing the "uncollected garbage" as having "become a visual and olfactory symbol of the actions to defeat the president's pension reform plan" "because it is what brings pests to the surface" and that they "are extremely sensitive to the situation. in the French pension protests. [19] It is possible that many joined the rally in Paris after being turned away by police from the "blockade of the Veolia warehouse in Aubervilliers". [110] Sky News, on 17 March, stated that garbage collection strikes are set to continue until at least 20 March. [176][177] 11,000 law enforcement officers were deployed, including 4,000 in Paris. Protests: 2010 French . Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said that she supported the strike, and in response a government spokesman Olivier Vran declared that if she did not comply, the Interior Ministry would be "ready to act instead". [117] Euronews, on 21 March, claimed that "government insiders and observers have raised fears that France is again heading for another bout of violent anti-government protests". [137] Hugh Schofield of BBC News said that unions and the left "are calling the day a success, with once again a large turn-out of people showing their rejection of Macron's pension bill". This system, "which has enabled generations to retire with a guaranteed, state-backed pension, will not change". [120], CNN reported "heavy police presence across the capital as demonstrators moved between locations",[111] with AP quoting Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, who said the violence was "caused by groups of up to 300 people quickly moving through the capital". [15] Journalist Benjamin Dodman claimed that Borne et al. High school pupils staged protests outside some schools and students said they would occupy Sciences Po university in Paris in support of the strikers. [174], Dozens of protestors gathered in Gannes in the outskirts of Cannes Film Festival on 21 May. Video, The nuclear waste 'graveyard' that will last 100,000 years, Woman found dead after suspected bear encounter, Twitter rebranded as X as blue bird logo killed off, Hundreds displaced after severe flooding in Canada, Birkin daughter cites 'emptiness' in funeral tribute, 'Brilliant, kind' broadcaster George Alagiah dies at 67, Russia hits Ukraine grain at river ports near Romania. [105], In the morning, rubbish piles were set alight around the ring road in Rennes as part of a road blockade, with protesters also blockading waste collection points and the nearby Vern-sur-Seiche oil depot was blockaded. Tous les points de blocages sont levs Porte de Saint-Malo: chausse endommage. "[180], Waste collection strikes also affected Antibes, Rennes, and Le Havre. The government mandated minimum staffing at all depots. [137], 320 protests were planned across the country, with the biggest demonstrations in the southern towns of Marseille, Nice, and Toulon; in the former two, "thousands of protesters" demonstrated. [175] Protesters also stormed the headquarters of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, briefly occupying the headquarters building, however no damage occurred. Police fired tear gas as tensions intensified at the end of the route in Place Vauban, Karima (L) said she would have to work at least two more years to get a full pension, High school students took part in the protests on Tuesday in support of the strikers, The nuclear waste 'graveyard' that will last 100,000 years. French protest retirement age, pension reforms, closing Eiffel Tower According to the CGT, over 2,500,000 protesters took part in demonstrations, a rise of 500,000 compared to 7 February, while the Ministry of the Interior claims that 963,000 protested, a rise of over 200,000 compared to 7 February. [17], By nightfall, 120 people were reported to have been arrested, according to Parisian police,[74] "on suspicion of seeking to cause damage";[86] by 11:30pm,[87] the number later rose to 217. [99][18] protesters who gathered at the Place d'Italie then "marched toward Europe's biggest waste incineration plant, which has become a flashpoint of tensions", some setting trash cans alight and chanting mottos "such as "the streets are ours" as firefighter sirens wailed". [136] The impact varied nationwide, with reports suggesting that 40 out of 96 departments are affected, particularly in the north in Brittany and Normandy, as well as the Mediterranean coast. Clashes erupted in Paris on Monday marking May 1, a traditional day of union-led marches, in the wake of hugely unpopular changes to France's pension system that were signed into law last month . [38] The new law would increase annual pension contributions, from 41 to 43 payments throughout the year. VideoThe nuclear waste 'graveyard' that will last 100,000 years, A Wagner fighter reveals his part in the mutiny, BBC puts new deepfake detector to the test, Cambodia's election 'was more a coronation'. Years before France was inflamed with anger at the police killing of a teenager during a traffic stop, there was the notorious Tho Luhaka case. One person tells us "the people win, or Macron wins. [98] Despite this, widespread protests were still reported in Paris,[25] with a rally instead planned for Place d'Italie in southern Paris at 6pm that evening,[97][23] at which demonstrators chanted, once again, for Macron to resign, and "Macron is going to break down, we are going to win". They reported that in Marseille, protesters eluded police and occupied the main train station for approximately 15 minutes. However, it was pointed out that the triggering of an 'RIP' would need to have been done "before the enactment of the law"; yet, according to Stphane Peu, deputy of the Communist Party Deputy, NUPES has had the support of the necessary 185 National Assembly members since 14 March, two days before the invoking of Article 49.3; he said his bill would include language that stated "the retirement age cannot exceed 62". [112], CGT had announced on 16 March that the unions planned another day of strikes and demonstrations for 23 March,[13][128] the ninth day of nationwide industrial action since the pension reform strikes began. The CGT trade union said half a million protesters had gathered in Paris alone, although authorities put the number at 87,000, and the union put the total number across France as high as 2.8 million. Macron had also acknowledged the anger over the increasing prices jobs that didn't "allow too many French people to live well". [87][73] In Donges, a roadblock was in place near to the TotalEnergie refinery oil terminals;[5][73] in Valenciennes, striking workers blocked the entry of a fuel depot while police in riot gear were observed removing tyres from the road near it; striking rubbish collection workers clashed with police at the Ivry-sur-Seine incinerator; and the blockade of the port of Marseille by striking workers of the CGT continued. [173], Hospital workers protested in front of Carlton Cannes Hotel on 19 May, violating the ban on protests throughout most of the city. "That will give the government credibility to make some investments that it needs to make in schooling, in the hospital system that it needs to improve, and more investment in innovation and green industrialisation," he told BBC News. In Paris, police Paris announced they had ordered rubbish collectors back to work to "ensure a 'minimum service'; this will cover 674 staff, with 206 garbage trucks resuming operation. "[7], Furthermore, it was announced that members of NUPES would appeal to the Constitutional Council; a deputy of the LIOT group said on 14 March that had the bill passed by vote in the National Assembly, "several appeals" would have been made. They were "booed and hissed" at as they "passed further away down Boulevard de l'Opra". [131] An unofficial protest in front of Terminal 1 at Charles de Gaulle Airport blocked vehicle access. ", "Not just about retiring at 64: What you may have missed in the French pension reform", "Retirement age hike to 65 'not set in stone' says French PM ahead of crunch union talks", "Protests erupt in France as govt adopts new pension law", "France faces another day of strikes ahead of key vote on pension reforms", "Macron uses special powers to force through plan to raise pension age", "Pension protests pile pressure on Macron ahead of crucial vote for France", "Bitter pension battle turns to democratic crisis as Macron bypasses French parliament", "Macron pays high price in popularity over pension reform, survey shows", "Protests held in France amid anger at Macron's pension reform", "France protests: What to know as Macron forces a retirement-age hike", "Conseil Constitutionel censored most social dispositions of the law", "France's Macron faces no-confidence vote as protestors arrested, refinery strikes continue", "Violence erupts in Paris as thousands take to streets to protest pension reforms", "Protesters, police clash as French gov't survives pension votes", "Dozens of flights and trains to France cancelled amid mass strikes", "Chambry: La Maison des syndicats incendie et tague dans la nuit du 5 au 6 mars", "Massive turnout for May Day marred by violence in several French cities", "The diverse members of France's black blocs, united against capitalism, the police and Macron", "Lyon: heurts et dgradations en marge de la manifestation du 1er mai", "Rennes: 25 000 euros d'or vols dans une boutique lors de la manifestation de samedi", "RETRAITES: LA CGT ANNONCE 2,8 MILLIONS DE MANIFESTANTS EN FRANCE, 1,272 MILLION SELON LA POLICE", "Rforme des retraites: la CGT annonce "plus de 2 millions" de manifestants, le gouvernement 1,12 million", "France: Over 1 million march against raising retirement age", "Striking French workers lead 1 million people in protest over plans to raise retirement age | CNN Business", "Grve du 19 janvier: 80.000 manifestants selon la police, contre 400.000 pour la CGT", "Grve contre la rforme des retraites: forte mobilisation Marseille, Avignon et Arles", "Grve contre la rforme des retraites: trs forte mobilisation dans les Bouches-du-Rhne et le Var", "Mare humaine Lyon contre la rforme des retraites", "Entre 36.000 et 50.000 personnes ont manifest contre la rforme des retraites Toulouse", "Grve du 19 janvier: mobilisation trs importante Nice, des milliers de participants", "Grve contre la rforme des retraites: les images de l'norme manifestation nioise", "VIDO.

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