PARIS (London Post with AP) – Protests and strikes against unpopular pension reforms resumed across France on Tuesday, with police on guard after the government warned that radical protesters intended to “destroy, injure and kill.” was strengthened.
Fear that violence would destabilize the demonstrations prompted the unprecedented deployment of his 13,000 officers, described by Interior Minister Gerard Dalmanin, nearly half of them in the French capital.
Breaking out of the storm of protests sparked by President Emmanuel Macron’s changes to France’s pension system seemed farther away than ever. Macron has cut ties with her, despite renewed calls by trade unions to halt a controversial government move to raise France’s legal retirement age from 62 to her 64. seems to maintain.
French leaders have previously used special constitutional powers to force reforms without allowing parliamentarians to vote. His move this month has further fueled the protest movement. Since then, violence has erupted, with thousands of tons of foul-smelling garbage piled up on the streets of Paris and garbage collectors going on strike.
“Everybody is outraged,” said Clément Seyde, a train passenger at Gare de Lyon in Paris.
He said he supported the strike despite the impact on transportation and other services.
“I’m not sure if he’s 26 and retired,” he said.
Another passenger, 70-year-old Helen Cogan, said:
“The French are stubborn and things get out of hand.”
Tuesday’s wave of protests came as unions called on workers to leave the country for the 10th time since January, voicing protesters against changes to pensions, a key priority for Macron’s second term as president. Called to flood the streets of the country. His government argues that without reform, France’s pension system will slip into deficit in many rich countries due to declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy. Additional funding for the company could come from other sources without requiring workers to retire later, it said.
Demonstrations began peacefully on Tuesday morning with large crowds in several cities. However, the police prepared for violence later in the day. The interior secretary said more than 1,000 “radical” troublemakers could join the demonstrations in Paris and elsewhere. “They come to destroy, maim and kill police and gendarmes. Your goal has nothing to do with pension reform. Their goal is to destabilize the republic and bring blood and fire to France.” That’s it,” the minister detailed Monday’s police operation.
Some protesters, human rights activists, and political opponents of President Macron say police officers used excessive force against protesters.Police regulators have filed multiple allegations of misconduct by officers. are investigating. Striking railway workers outside Gare de Lyon marched with banners that read:
“Police amputate limbs. We will not allow it!”
Mr Macron’s opponents are urging him to back down and calm his anger. Union leader Laurent Berger sued on Tuesday for a suspension and mediation of the implementation of pension reforms.
“If we want to avoid tension, and I want to avoid it, the union suggests a gesture to calm things down. ‘It has to be confiscated.’
However, government spokesman Olivier Veran said mediation was not necessary for the union and the government to talk to each other. A series of protests prompted President Macron to cancel an official visit by King Charles III this week. postponed indefinitely.
However, Bellan insisted that France would remain a welcoming place for all non-royal visitors.
“Life goes on,” he said.
