A warning has been issued that the 76th Cannes International Film Festival, which will be held in France on the 16th of next month, could face a blackout due to a strike by the electric union against pension reform.
According to the British Guardian on the 24th (local time), members of the National Confederation of Mining and Energy (Energy Union), a branch of the French hardline labor union CGT, said, “Cannes International Film Festival, F1 Monaco Grand Prix, French Open International Tennis Tournament, Avignon Festival, etc. Various events may end in the dark (due to power supply cut off),” he said, announcing that he would raise the level of the strike.
Accordingly, the aftermath of the strike is expected to hit annual events related to the film industry and sports and cultural gatherings.
Fabrice Kudour, secretary-general of the energy union, told French channel BFM TV that day, “We have unanimously drawn a position to hold an offensive demonstration. Our goal is not to disrupt the event, but to prepare a platform for the protest.” Explained.
Secretary-General Kudur said he wanted to show that anger over the passage of the pension reform still exists and express it wherever possible. There are celebrities who share our views.”
Previously, on the 21st, the Energy Labor Union announced that it would enter into ‘100 days of action and anger’.
The announcement came after French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a public address on the 17th that he would also embark on other key reforms, including working conditions, law and order, immigration, education and health, over the next 100 days.
The energy union’s decision to go on an offensive strike appears to be a backlash against President Macron’s declaration of going straight despite criticism that he pushed ahead with pension reform despite the opposition of the majority of the public.
Last week, energy unions cut power to Montpellier’s airport and local schools in southern France as a sign of protest against the government.
The Cannes Film Festival will be held from the 16th to the 27th of next month. The organizers of the Cannes Film Festival did not make a separate statement regarding the union’s threat to cut off electricity supply.
Meanwhile, last month, French cultural and artistic figures (Juliet Binoche, Laure Calami, Jonathan Cohen, Michel Hazanavicius, Camille Cotain, etc.) signed an open letter demanding the withdrawal of the pension reform bill.
In their letter, they pointed out that the bill would have a particularly negative impact on female artists.
“It’s a widely proven fact that female artists are much more insecure,” they said. “It’s harder to get roles once you’re over 50.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.