The French continue this Thursday with the ninth day of strike against the reform of the pension system. Between 600,000 and 800,000 protesters are expected, with 320 fighting actions announced across the country. In Paris, the authorities expect between 40,000 and 70,000 demonstrators.
The CGT union leader, Philippe Martínez, speaks of “contempt and mockery”. As for Laurent Berger, of the CFDT, they are “lies”. These are the reactions to the words of Emmanuel Macron, who insists on not going back on the pension reform. For the opposition, the French president’s speech is one more reason to mobilize this Thursday in the streets.
In Saint Ouen, in the north of Paris, discontent is growing for workers at the waste incineration center. The workers followed yesterday’s interview with Emmanuel Macron on their phones. “I have another definition of the best interest of the Nation”, reacts a worker.
These workers, who have been on strike for three weeks, do not expect a political withdrawal from the French government. “He is joking and thinks he is stronger than us,” says Nicolas, a chemist at this garbage sorting center in Saint Ouen.
“It is anecdotal. The French president will be forced to withdraw this reform when he realizes that we are all tired, unhappy and when he sees that the country is paralyzed. What this government wants is to move on to something else. the reform is already all good, but when they realize that the people are not well, they will wonder what they can do. Because what they are doing is just politics, ”he believes.
As for the exceptional contribution of large companies to workers, Stéphane is not convinced: “It is a language maneuver because they do not want to charge more taxes (to large companies). He used the words exceptional contributions as a piece of language to say that he’s part of your strategy, but it won’t change anything.”
Stéphane asks for visible results: “They are fooling themselves, but facts are needed. Mr Macron, facts are needed because words… you have said too much and you have to act, and act in accordance with the French.”
These workers take to the streets this Thursday, where even more protesters are expected than in previous social protests.
Source: TSF
