Paris, Europe Brief News – A general strike was declared as thousands of people took into the streets in Paris on Thursday, protesting against President Emmanuel Macron’s planned pension reforms.
At least 1.1 million people protested on the streets of Paris and other cities across France on Thursday.
More than 200 rallies were staged around the country, including a large one in Paris involving all of France’s major unions.
“Today’s mobilisation reflects the massive opposition, I think nearly 80% of the people are against it, especially among the youngest people,” said Philippe Martinez, Head of the CGT Trade Union.
More than a million protesters, chanting slogans like “retirement before arthritis,” took to the streets throughout France to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the legal age of retirement to 64 from 62. https://t.co/S6LQKCPpPM pic.twitter.com/9dzZlfeIpE
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 19, 2023
“So today’s general strike reflects the opposition of the citizens of this country to this reform,” added Martinez.
Murielle Guilbert, co-general delegate of Solidaires said: “We have to put things back on the table and that means a different distribution of wealth. There are ways of financing public services and social protection, except that Macron doesn’t want to talk about it, and that’s the crux of the problem.”
The strikes severely disrupted transport, schools and other public services across France.
The national strike overshadowed Macron’s visit to Barcelona for talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
“It is a reform that has been presented in a democratic way, that has been validated,” explained Macron when asked about the matter by a journalist at a joint press conference with Sanchez, “and that is a reform that is fair and responsible.”
