France: 24 hours after another giant march, Macron seeks a way out of the crisis thanks to his pension reform

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The political climate is dangerously poisoned in France. Violence grows and trade union leaders demand that the Constitutional Council, the French Supreme Court, withdraw the pension reform so as not to fuel further radicalisation, anger and risks, in the face of a police brutally represses

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They are joined by politicians and Medef, which brings together the captains of industry, which invites “to change the method because this does not work“, referring to the lack of dialogue between the executive and the unions. Medef warned that if the violence continues “it will discourage investors”.

tenth gear

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As France prepares for its tenth mass mobilization of traditional unions on Tuesday, the leader of the largest and most moderate CFTC, Laurent Leger, confirmed he received a phone call on Monday from the secretary general of the Elysée, Alexis Kohler.

“I told him what I told the media. You need to rule out 64 and take a break. And talk about work, about retirements in the next few months,” she said.

The head of the first trade union in France has called on the government to “provisionally withdraw” the reform bill. “There is strong social tension and the risk of violence. It is a request from the CFDT,” observed Laurent Berger.

“There is a very deep resentment, a growing anger. It will be better to lower the temperature than to stir things up. I am very worried,” acknowledged the union leader.

Berger condemned the violence

Berger he condemned the violence. “Unfortunately we have seen too many images of people breaking up instead of people demonstrating. Time is dangerous. A reason to stop,” she warned.

A dialogue between unions and the government is essential right now, after the violent crackdown on the Deux Sevres environmental demonstration on Saturday left 600 injured and five between life and death.

The environmental demonstration of Deux Sevres.  Photo: Thibaud Moritz/AFP

The environmental demonstration of Deux Sevres. Photo: Thibaud Moritz/AFP

The CGT and CFDT will make a countrywide show of strength in Tuesday’s march. In Paris it will spread from the Place de la République to the Bastille to end up in the Place de la Nation.

The fear is that it will be infiltrated again by the Black Bloc and end up with a fiery journey, as happened on Thursday, between the Grands Boulevards and the Opera Square.

Dialogue?

Government spokesman Olivier Veran said that “we spoke to Laurent Berger. I hold out my hand. The CFDT does not deny that the pension system needs to be reformed, but we disagree. We will not freeze the country around that disagreement. My belief is that in a few days, in a few weeks we will find the unions around the table”.

The CGT, the second largest trade union, changes its head. In their congress in Clermont Ferrand they discuss to find the successor of Philippe Martínez, current general secretary. Marie Buisson, general secretary of the FERC Education Federation, could be his replacement.

THE young students of high schools and universities joined the protest. The Paris Dauphine University was blocked this Monday morning. It is a symbol in France that protests do not obscure but they burn when students join.

Let’s stop the police repression

More than 60,000 signatures have come together to disband the BRAV-M motorized police brigade, created in 2019 during the fight against the yellow vests, with two policemen on each bike. In this battle against reforms he has become one the symbol of police abuse. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo denounced this “unacceptable police violence”.

French Nobel Prize in Literature Annie Ernaux has backed an investigation after four young students said having been sexually assaulted by policemen in Nantes after a demonstration against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform.

Riot police during protests in Toulouse.  Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Riot police during protests in Toulouse. Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

new nuance

The government promises to no longer use Article 49.3 of the Constitution which allowed it Do not vote in Parliament on pension reform. Only on budget matters. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne received the leaders of the majority and on Wednesday she will receive the leaders of the opposition.

They will have to downsize because the political and social crisis is about to become a regime crisis. The anger is aimed at President Emmanuel Macron, at his inability to listen or change his mind.

The deputies of the National Assembly want to be heard in this deaf climate. They plan to leave an empty seat in protest to change the parliamentary method.

The leader of Indomitable France, Jean Luc Mélenchon, calls for a fresh start with the reforms and the departure of Prime Minister Borne, who wants to “calm tensions” and offers to “listen”. The website of the National Assembly has been blocked by an attack by pro-Russian hackers.

renewed strikes

Although garbage collectors have collected 2,000 tons of rubbish in Paris, there are still 8,000 to be collected.  Photo: AP

Although garbage collectors have collected 2,000 tons of rubbish in Paris, there are still 8,000 to be collected. Photo: AP

Renewed strikes continue in France. Although garbage collectors have also removed 2,000 tons of garbage in Paris 8,000 left to be collected.

The Auberviliers garbage truck depot is blocked to prevent requisitioning to collect the garbage.

The Louvre blocked

The Total company site in Pau has been blocked. The Louvre museum was unable to open on Monday due to the strike.

The Louvre museum was unable to open on Monday due to the strike.  Photo: Christophe Archambault / AFP

The Louvre museum was unable to open on Monday due to the strike. Photo: Christophe Archambault / AFP

The police occupied the square of the Pompidou Center because a wild demonstration had been announced for today on social networks.

For this Tuesday the unrest in transport will continue, the metro, the RER (suburban train) and 20 percent of flights in Paris, Orly, Marseille, Toulouse and Bordeaux will be reduced.

THE fuel shortage continues, with 27 departments with 30% of their gas stations in trouble. Demonstrations this Tuesday will be all over France.

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Source: Clarin

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