Violence is spiraling out of control in France, especially following Emmanuel Macron’s move to pass the pension bill by Presidential Decree. The government coalition has been alarmed, as violence is escalating in the countrywhile fears are being expressed even by top supporters of the French president that the situation is getting out of hand.
Of course, Macron’s allies in the National Assembly still support the unpopular pension reform, but many are now urging the president to find a way to defuse the climate even as millions of citizens take part in protests.
The government is sending more and more police to confront the protesters and there are concerns that someone might be killed, which of course would spark a new wave of anger. After all, there are not a few videos circulating on social media that show a crescendo of police violence with attacks on citizens who are demonstrating peacefully.
“We are heading into uncharted territory and every step brings us closer to a disaster and a possible fatality,” said Eric Botorel of Macron’s Renaissance (formerly La République En Marche!) party from Brittany. “The most urgent priority is to de-escalate the violence.”
One option would be for Macron to freeze pension reform, restart talks with moderate unions over working conditions and broaden the focus on education and health, in line with protesters’ demands, said economist Philippe Agyon, the who has been a driving force behind Macron’s policies, including pension reform.
Macron is ready to speak directly to workers’ representatives once the Constitutional Council rules on the constitutionality of the bill, government spokesman Olivier Verand said on Tuesday. The Council has until April 20 to reach its verdict. Macron has so far ruled out any concessions to unions.
The French president does not have many options: either he will wait for the protests to die down and risk an increase in violence, or he will suspend the reform, or he will go to the polls (for parliamentary elections). Early elections are a risky option.
According to a poll published by Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday, Macron’s party would lose 5 points compared to last June’s election if it dissolved the lower house now and held new elections. Recent ones polls show that most people oppose pension reform.
Hundreds of people have been arrested since early March. Human rights NGOs such as Amnesty International have accused the government of excessive use of force and abusive arrests. Images of special security forces beating peaceful protesters with batons have gone viral, along with images of protesters setting garbage on fire, looting supermarkets, throwing Molotov cocktails at police and storming banks.
The level of violence has gained momentum since the Macron government used constitutional freedoms to bypass a parliamentary vote – which it would have lost – earlier this month.
Unions are adamant – as is Macron – and have renewed their strike date for next week. However, Parisians can expect some relief on Wednesday, when waste workers resume work following weeks of strike action that left piles of rubbish piled up along the streets.
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