Unions and strikers will demonstrate this Thursday in Paris and in the regions to protest against the pension reform project that the executive wants. But Emmanuel Macron will be far away. About eleven of his ministers, to tell the truth. The head of state and a quarter of the government – such as the figure of ICI, the Radiofrance platform and France 3 – will be in Barcelona to sign a “friendship and cooperation” treaty with Spain.
11 travel ministers
The agreement – the third of its kind after a pact with Germany in 1963 and another, more recent, with Italy in 2021 – should strengthen the common effort on immigration, defense, energy policy and on the youth file. On the Spanish side, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will make the trip to sign the document.
Thus, while the Head of Government, Elisabeth Borne, will remain in Paris to defend her plans for the pension system, as well as the Labor Minister, Olivier Dussopt, eleven ministers will be on the Catalan trip.
We include Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pap Ndiaye, Minister of National Education, Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate in charge of Transport, or even Marlène Schiappa , Secretary of State for Social and Solidarity Economy.
Demonstrations (also) in the program
The official program for the day is as follows: first the signing of the treaty, then a joint press conference in which Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez will participate, before a meeting with cultural circles. Later, Emmanuel Macron is due to give a speech in front of 400 French expatriates.
However, I am not sure that Emmanuel Macron and his ministers escape the spectacle of the processions of protesters. In fact, the independence movements have declared their intention to demonstrate in the streets of Barcelona outside the event. However, it is the ears of the President of the Spanish Government, landed in Madrid, that should whistle.
Source: BFM TV
