French protests continue as Macron’s government faces two no-confidence votes

1. online report
2. Political situation

20.03.2023

Two parliamentary groups have tabled a motion of no confidence in the French government following Macron’s government forced through a controversial pension reform without a vote. The French government’s plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 has also sparked public outrage.

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) After French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne used special constitutional powers to force through the controversial pension reform last week without a vote in the National Assembly, the French government announced on Monday (March 20) Facing two votes of no confidence.

The pension reform plan led by French President Emmanuel Macron will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.The reform program has resulted in theOngoing protests in Paris and other cities。

How does a vote of no confidence work?

One of the no-confidence motions was put forward by the centrist bloc Liot – made up of several small groups and backed by the left-wing coalition Nupes (New Alliance of Ecological and Social Peoples).
Another no-confidence motion was put forward by the “National Alliance” led by the far-right Marine Le Pen.

If the vote of no confidence succeeds, the pension reform bill will be defeated and Macron will have to appoint a new cabinet.

Macron’s ruling coalition has the most lawmakers in France’s lower house, the National Assembly, but not an absolute majority. Still, the French government thinks it can survive both votes, especially following conservative Republicans said they would not support either no-confidence motion.

“Let’s clarify, and a vote means clarification,” pro-government lawmaker Aurore Berge told France News radio on Sunday. Berger is the chairman of the parliamentary group of Macron’s “Baath Party”, which was formerly known as the “Republican Progress” movement.

“It’s just regarding one question: is pension reform indispensable to the French public, or is it intolerable?” Berger said.

Protests once morest government’s retirement reform plan turn Paris into a dump

The government postponed the retirement age, and the people protested

Over the past few weeks, French people have protested once morest the increase of the retirement age by the Macron government. There has been a steady stream of demonstrations. On Wednesday (March 16) in the capital Paris and major cities across the country, 750,000 people took to the streets.

Protests once morest government’s retirement reform plan turn Paris into a dump

Strike, no one to clean up garbage on the streets of Paris

Macron’s government plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Critics say the reform hurts hard laborers in particular. After the strike of the public sector, the garbage in many cities was left unattended, and the smell was stinking. In Paris alone, the accumulation of garbage has reached thousands of tons.

Protests once morest government’s retirement reform plan turn Paris into a dump

Garbage has become a happy paradise for mice

The ubiquitous garbage has become a paradise for mice. “It’s disgusting! Some people can’t even get in the house!” told one woman, while a German tourist said she and her partner were planning a romantic getaway to France, but the glamor of Paris had been blotted out by the rubbish.

Protests once morest government’s retirement reform plan turn Paris into a dump

A Reform That Goes Against the Will of the People

It was a top-down reform that was opposed by around 70% of the French population. The mayor of Paris, the Socialist Anne Hildago, supported the demonstrations at the bottom. She said on Monday (March 13) that the reforms not only affect employees in the public sector, but also the private sector. “I just want to say to the government: talk to the protesters!”

Protests once morest government’s retirement reform plan turn Paris into a dump

The strike was forced by the government

No one knows when the garbage trucks will reopen. Natacha Pommet, chief executive of the trade union federation CGT, believes that the strike was forced by the government as a last resort. “It is clear that the government is forcing a reform that most people oppose.”

Protests once morest government’s retirement reform plan turn Paris into a dump

How to kill a bill at the last minute

Strikes in France’s public sector will continue until at least Monday. The National Assembly has formed a mediation group and the government is confident that the reform package will be passed by the National Assembly, or the lower house, on Thursday, following the Senate passed the bill. Still, protesters hope to block the retirement bill from passing at the last minute.

protests will continue

Macron’s government’s reform plans have sparked protests and strikes over the past few months. Protests have erupted once more in major cities following Prime Minister Borne used Article 49/3 of the French constitution to force parliament to pass pension reform bills without a vote. Since losing its absolute majority in parliament last year, Macron’s government has repeatedly invoked special constitutional rights to use the tactic to achieve its goals.

Protests broke out once more in France last weekend

Garbage workers, refinery workers and other groups said they would continue to strike. They have already planned a nationwide operation this Thursday.

Far-left political veteran and former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon told RFI on Sunday (March 19) that as long as reforms to raise the retirement age to 64 are under discussion, “we will Keep fighting.” However, he also urged protesters to remain non-violent in their demonstrations.

“Don’t let what is going once morest us overshadow our fight…Mr Macron…is counting on people to act too aggressively in order to profit from a situation of fear,” Melenchon said.

(AFP, Archyde.com, DPA, AP)

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