Police authorities said 26 people were arrested in the French capital and masked protesters carried out attacks on several commercial establishments.
This day of protest, the seventh consecutive weekly mobilization, was convened by the main French trade unions, led by the General Confederation of Workers (CGT), and had the participation of the leader of Insubmissive France, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who was present at the demonstration of Marseilles, which brought together about 7,000 people.
“I believe we need a democratic way out of this impasse,” said the left-wing party leader.
CGT general secretary Philippe Martínez, at the beginning of the demonstration in Paris, challenged President Emmanuel Macron to “consult the French” on the reform he proposes for the national pension system.
“The majority is absolutely against this unjust reform and supports mobilization and strikes,” said Martínez, quoted by the Europa Press news agency.
Tensions over the reform peaked this week after Macron refused to accept meetings with union representatives, sparking “a lot of irritation” according to Philippe Martínez. “When millions of people are on the streets, when there are strikes and you get nothing but silence from the other side, people ask: what more do we need to do to be heard?” he said before calling for a referendum on the pension reform. “Since he is very sure of himself, the President of the Republic should consult the people. We will see what the reaction of the people is,” he suggested.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has asked airlines to cancel 20% of their scheduled flights for this weekend at several airports, including Paris-Orly, due to the air traffic controllers’ strike.
The French Senate on Thursday voted by a right-wing majority to postpone the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64, the key point of the government’s proposed change to the pension system.
The vote came at the end of a 15-hour parliamentary debate marathon on that article, with the left presenting hundreds of amendments to avoid debate and the right resorting to an exceptional means of overcoming them.
In addition to the parliamentary process, which could end next week, the major obstacle for Macron was the street protests, organized by all trade unions, united in a union considered unprecedented in France.
The government justified raising the retirement age to respond to the financial degradation of pension funds and the aging of the population.
Source: DN
