More than 360,000 people have taken to the streets across France to protest once morest the country’s Senate passing an important policy.
On March 11, with 195 votes in favor and 112 once morest, the French Senate approved the pension reform proposals of President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. To ensure the stability of the pension fund, Mr. Macron supported the proposal to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. Many French people oppose this proposal.
“The important step has been passed,” French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said following the Senate voted.
According to Borne, raising the retirement age is an important measure to keep the pension fund from running out of money. Therefore, the government will not falter in the face of pressure.
On March 16, the pension reform proposal will be submitted to the French Parliament for approval. Mr. Macron’s administration is said to be not easily supported by a majority of MPs in the House of Representatives.
Most unions in France oppose plans to raise the retirement age. On March 11, they organized large protests across France to call on the Senate to reject pension reform.
Protests in the city of Lyon (France) on March 11 (photo: Guardian)
On the evening of March 11 (France time), Paris police arrested 32 protesters with extreme behavior such as attacking security forces, burning or destroying property.
According to the Guardian, President Macron refused all urgent calls from union leaders in France to make him change his mind.
Philippe Martinez – leader of the CGT Trade Union (France) – said he was “very angry” because of the feeling of being disrespected.
“Millions of people took to the streets. Many people organized a strike. But all we get is silence. People wonder: What else do we have to do to be heard?” Mr. Martinez said.
The French Interior Ministry on March 11 recorded regarding 368,000 people participating in protests across the country. Earlier, the police had prepared to deal with regarding 800,000 protesters.
In Paris, on March 11, regarding 48,000 people took to the streets to protest, regarding half less than the police predicted.
On February 11, nearly 1 million French people joined a protest once morest pension reform. In Paris, many groups of sanitation workers organized a strike, causing garbage to accumulate on the streets.
A recent public opinion poll released by French radio station BFMTV showed that 63% of French respondents said they supported the protest, 54% supported the organization of a strike.
