French Police Face Scrutiny for Heavy Hand During Pension Protests - The New York Times French Police Face Scrutiny for Heavy Hand During Pension Protests An audio recording of officers. "Any kind of reform that is going to ask people to work longer will be unpopular, but we've been elected on this reform," said Christopher Weissberg, an MP in Mr Macron's Renaissance party. [121] The Constitutional Council has a month to "consider any objections" to the bill. CGT announced "strikers were halting production at two refineries over the weekend". Locals chanted for Macron to resign and some heckled him. France pension protests: Hundreds detained after French - CNN [85], Later, a bonfire was lit,[82] with police armed with shields and batons deploying tear gas in an attempt to clear the square[74] at around 8pm. Reforming the pension system was a significant part of his platform for election in 2017, with initial protests and transport strikes in late 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which saw Macron delay the reforms further. Fabien Jobard, research director at France's National Scientific Research Centre CNRS, said that a "judicialisation of policing" has taken place over the past 15 years, with specific reference to a 2010 law that created the offence of "participation in a group with a view to committing violence or damage"; its original remit of mitigating against 'gang violence' and at sporting venues has been expanded to protests and demonstrations. [179][bettersourceneeded], A strike by waste collectors began on 6 March, which included a blockade of the city's incinerators. Yahoo! [110] Sky News, on 17 March, stated that garbage collection strikes are set to continue until at least 20 March. [13], As well as this, it has been argued the reforms will hit the working-class and those who work in manual jobs disproportionately. Furthermore, the number of years that contributions would need to be made to qualify for the full state pension would increase from 42 to 43 in 2027,[12] meaning that some may have to work to 67 the year at which a person is automatically able to receive a state pension from. "[201], Rights groups and independent bodies, including the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, have criticized French police for resorting to excessive force and for making preventative arrests that could amount to arbitrary deprivation of liberty. [139] A heavy presence of "[h]eavily armed riot police" was reported. How the Paris 2023 Protests are Impacting Travel - AFAR This is a bigger drop than expected, with analysts forecasting a figure of 8.2% this . However, as BBC News wrote, protesters were also injured by police stun grenades, and the Council of Europe declared that there was no justification for "excessive force" by authorities. [197], EELV MP Sandrine Rousseau called for the trip to be cancelled, asking if "the priority [is] really to receive Charles III at Versailles? Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt said the government is already working hard to implement the changes by 1 September. Bear in mind that it is sometimes better to opt for your pension income to be taxed in France, since the rates of income tax in France are lower than in the UK. He added that the King and Queen Consort's plans to attend a "lavish dinner at the former royal residence, the Versailles Palace", "does not look good", and "seems very 1789". France pensions: Protests erupt as government forces through - CNN [39] Over 200 demonstrations were reported in the country. "Nobody wants his reforms, and the more the days go by, the greater the opposition to them. [207][208], Dimitris Koutsoumpas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece, attended a rally in Paris on 23 March; in a statement from Bastille Square, expressing his solidarity with the "struggle of the French people against anti-labor policies, against the anti-popular choices" utilised by both the French and the Greek governments in order to ensure the working people "finally win" and "pave the way for their own interests and not the interests and profits of the few." Why the French are protesting against pension reform Lisa Louis in Paris 01/30/2023 A reform of France's pension system is set to push up the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64. "[7], Furthermore, it was announced that members of NUPES would appeal to the Constitutional Council; a deputy of the LIOT group said on 14 March that had the bill passed by vote in the National Assembly, "several appeals" would have been made. Lawmakers approve bill allowing French police to locate suspects by April 6, 2023 French workers marched and went on strike around the country on Thursday for the 11th time in three months, as the stalemate between President Emmanuel Macron and labor unions endured. [140] At around 2:40pm GMT, journalist Lewis Goodall claimed that "[t]he main demonstration route [in Paris] is full [and so] they're now filing onto every side street". A reporter claimed that police are deploying tear gas to push back the crowds, but it was ineffective due to the large number of people attending the protest. [19] Le Journal du Dimanche reported that Macron's approval ratings hit a low comparable to the Yellow Jackets protests. "[122], On 20 March, CNN reported that "[a]uthorities in charge of civil air traffic asked airlines to cancel 20% of their flights on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Air France warned of flight cancellations in the upcoming days". FILE - Riot police officers charge a man holding his phone during a protest rally in Paris, France, Saturday, Dec.12, 2020. [124] On 23 March, British journalist Lewis Goodall, covering the demonstrations in Paris, reported that police were "on pretty brutal form" stating a member of his team had been targeted by police despite asserting they were press and were also throwing their stun grenades with "abandon". France pension reform protests turn violent following national day of Here's the latest information. As well as this, they quoted figures from the UFIP oil lobby that 7% of the country's petrol stations were affected by fuel shortages,[112] (up from 4% prior to the weekend; and that only 58 of 200 storage facilities were blocked)[113] meaning "people in major cities in particular would be "suffering"; this was worse in some areas, as in Marseille, "around half of petrol stations are reporting shortages, with an estimated 40 per cent completely closed in Bouches-du-Rhne",[112] and that "the Paris region could be hit by shortages at the storage facility of Genevilliers, northwest of the French capital". The following day, the Senate passed an initial vote by 195112. Clashes erupted in Paris on Monday marking May 1, a traditional day of union-led marches, in the wake of hugely unpopular changes to France's pension system that were signed into law last month . BFMTV also reported that there were at least 350400 'black bloc' protesters, using "big" fireworks, and at point targeting a Strasbourg-St Denis McDonald's restaurant. and "Aux armes" (Take up arms), with police "push[ing] them back and blocked access to the square". [25] In the latter, shop windows and bank fronts were smashed, for which "radical leftist groups" were partially blamed,[82] with shops looted. They quoted Franck Riester, the Minister Delegate for Parliamentary Relations, admitting that women would be "a bit penalised by the reform" in January. [36], On 7 February, a third day of national protests were held after being called by l'intersyndicale. [137], On 24 March, at the request of the French Government, the state visit was postponed. The government mandated minimum staffing at all depots. [96], CGT announced the shutdown of France's largest refinery, TotalEnergies' Gonfreville-L'Orcher (Seine-Maritime) site,[101] and "at least two oil refineries might be shut down starting Monday". The Ministry of Energy Transition "also announced the requisition of "three employees per shift" at an oil storage facility in Fos-sur-Mer", due to "worsening supply tensions"; they clarified that "[t]he requisition is valid for 48 hours as needed, starting March 21," and relates to "personnel essential to the operation of the storage facility"". "[19] The Times reported that Macron was thought to have "hoped earlier on Thursday to hold and win a parliamentary vote but changed tack after learning that only 35 of the 64 Republican MPs would back the reform, leaving him short of a majority", quoting Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt, who said that they "did everything [to have a vote] right up to the last minute". [98] Politico, quoting the Ministry of the Interior, later reported 122 had been arrested in Paris, with a total of 169 nationwide. [66], On Saturday, 11 March, the seventh day of protests was held in response to the National Assembly and Senate debating the draft law, with a final vote expected that month. 2023 BBC. The main demonstration route is full- they're now filing onto every side street", "CGT Union says more than 800,000 protesters have taken to the streets of Paris- the most significant action against Macron since the start of this crisis", "French networks saying 14 people have been arrested so far", "Protesters Block Train Tracks in Tours on Day of French Strikes", "France strikes: police station and courthouse attacked in pension protest", "Bordeaux town hall set on fire in France pension protests", "149 police officers have been injured in Paris tonight. It is believed that 1.1 to 1.4 million people participated in over 260 protests across the country. France has seen a second wave of protests and strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. 13.5 million (according to trade unions, depending on the days of demonstrations). Spearheaded by centrist group Liot, it was co-signed by NUPES,[83] with a total of 91 MPs from five different parliamentary groups signing. [103], Macron also made his first public statement since 16 March; issued to AFP, he said that he hoped "the text on pensions can go to the end of its democratic journey with respect for all". France pension protests - latest: Paris descends into violence as "[78][17], Marine Le Pen announced she would file a no-confidence motion in the government,[79] describing the use of Article 49.3 as "an extraordinary confession of weakness,"[78] "a total failure for the government", and that Borne should resign. Italy, Germany and Spain have moved towards raising the official retirement age to 67, while in the UK it is 66. ric Ciotti, leader of the Republicans, said invoking Article 49.3 was "a result of many years of political failures" that brought to the fore "a profound crisis in our constitution", but did not think the no-confidence votes was the solution required. A "crowd of students gathered to support the strikers" at the depot, with only "a slow dribble of very few rubbish trucks now passing each day" there. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. [146], In the evening, Interior Minister Darmanin made a statement where he declared that there had been an attempt to kill police officers by some protesters. Mr Macron's government has indicated it may move some way on the detail of its reform but has refused to give in on the main thrust of the raising the retirement age by two years to 64. The heads of two 'moderate' unions, Cyril Chabanier of CFTC and Laurent Berger of CFDT, expressed that unions were concerned. [94] Protests also took place in smaller towns like Laval and vreux. Macron, instead, plans to use a TV interview on 22 March to "calm things down" and plan and prepare for further reforms to take place over the rest of his term in office. Mr Macron's government is pushing ahead with its pension age reforms in the face of opinion polls that suggest two-thirds of voters are opposed to the changes, which begin their passage through the National Assembly next week. "[94], Head of the UNSA trade union federation, Lauren Escure, admitted that "when there is this much anger and so many French people on the streets, the more radical elements take the floor", and that it was not something they would want, but was inevitable, and "will be entirely the government's fault," he told AFP. [160] That day, 2.3 million people protested according to the protest organizers, while 800,000 protesters were estimated by French authorities. However, invoking it triggers a proviso that allows for no-confidence motions to be filed in the government. Laurent Cipriani/AP. Prs de 20000 personnes manifestent contre la rforme des retraites Strasbourg. In March, the government used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to force the bill through the French Parliament, sparking more protests and two failed no confidence votes, contributing to an increase in violence in protests alongside the union-organised strike action. Une mobilisation de grande ampleur en Pays de la Loire", "Grve du 19 janvier: jusqu' 15 000 personnes ont dfil d'Antigone la Comdie Montpellier", "VIDO Entre 15.000 et 25.000 personnes la manifestation contre la rforme des retraites Montpellier", "Rforme des retraites: " Je n'ai jamais vu une manifestation sociale aussi grande Strasbourg ", "Rforme des retraites: Bordeaux 60.000 manifestants selon les syndicats, 16.000 selon la prfecture", "Une mobilisation d'ampleur Bordeaux pour la manifestation contre la rforme des retraites", "Rforme des retraites: Lille, au moins 30 000 personnes dans un cortge de plus de 3 km", "Ctes-d'Armor. There is also an option to purchase additional trimestres . [98], AP reported that the DGAC had requested 30% of flights at Orly Airport to be cancelled, and 20% in Marseille, for Monday 20 March. Berger was quoted as having "scolded" the president for "for seeking to portray the pension dispute as a tussle "between one responsible (man) and a group of irresponsibles"". [98] In Lyon, some demonstrators tried to break into a town hall and set it alight, with police arresting 36;[96] police claimed that ""groups of violent individuals" triggered clashes". The Week said that "Macron and his government insist the reforms are needed to keep the pension system solvent and government borrowing acceptably low". Anger Over Pensions Law Fuels May Day Protests in France [187][188] During the protests of the 23 March, hundreds of officers were injured across France. Police explained this was due to "serious risks of disturbances to public order and security", and said those who did not obey this order could be fined. A series of protests began in France on 19 January 2023 with a demonstration of over one million people nationwide, organised by opponents of the pension reform bill proposed by the Borne government to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years old. BBC Homepage . The CGT union said at least three-quarters of workers had walked out at the big TotalEnergies oil refineries and fuel depots, although the company said the number was far lower. People bringing hoses, buckets, saucepans full of water out of their apartments to douse flames until fire service arrives. [9] In early January 2023 prior to consultation with unions, Prime Minister lisabeth Borne spoke on FranceInfo radio, stating that the government could "show flexibility" on the intention to raise the retirement age to 65, and were willing to explore "other solutions" that would enable the government to "reach its target of balancing the pensions system by 2030". [15] In Paris, protesters burned objects such as rubbish bins and bikes. In addition, opponents opine that Macron has "exaggerated the threat of projected deficits and refused to consider other ways to balance the system, like increasing worker payroll taxes, decoupling pensions from inflation or increasing taxes on wealthy households or companies", and that "the official body that monitors France's pension system has acknowledged that there is no immediate threat of bankruptcy and that long-term deficits", which Macron and the government have argued would occur if these reforms were not implemented, "were hard to accurately predict". ", "Heavily armed riot police as far as the eye can see in central Paris", "The sheer magnitude, the number of people Macron has motivated to turn out on the streets of Paris is extraordinary. There was also evidence that while raising the state pension age was a unifying call to arms, people were turning out for wider reasons, too. [28][29][30], In Chambry, "banners, sound systems, flags, and union tunics prepared for the 7 March demonstration went up in smoke" when fire was set to three vehicles parked in front of the Union hall. ", "1Local Parisians tell us there haven't been enough firefighters. [113], It was confirmed on 18 March that two no-confidence motions filed against the government will be debated beginning Monday, 20 March. ", "How does France's pension age compare to other countries and why has it sparked protests? In Lorient, a local newspaper reported that projectiles were thrown into the yard of the police station, having "triggered a brief fire",[134] with claims that multiple police officers had been "violently attacked". [127], France 24 commented that unions had been "united in coordinating their protests", but that "many expressed fears they could lose control of the protests as more radical demonstrators set the tone". The government stated that the reforms would "balance the deficit" in 2030, with a surplus amounting to billions of dollars that would "pay for measures allowing those in physically demanding jobs to retire early". [88], The CGT announced further strikes and demonstrations for 23 March;[74] its head, Philippe Martinez, said that the forcing through of the law "shows contempt towards the people",[76] with unions describing the move by the government as "a complete denial of democracy". FILE - French CRS riot police run amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform,. France protests look to test government's resolve on pension reforms These acts cannot go unpunished. [126] Marine Le Pen said "she would not play "any part in putting out the fire" as the president was the only one who had the keys to a political crisis he had himself created", and, pointing out that the interview being broadcast during lunchtime news programmes mostly watched by pensioners which Reuters stated was "the only demographic that is not dead set against the reform" was an example of Macron's "disdain for workers", and how "[h]e insults all French people, in general, all those who are protesting". [7], DW reported, on 18 March, that union leaders were anticipating that some airports would see nearly a third of flights cancelled on 20 March, owing to strike action.