The French unions want to turn this May 1, Labor Day, into a new day of protest against the pension reform of French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the 13th time that has been held in three months against this controversial law that raises the retirement age to 64 years. Despite the fact that it was promulgated 15 days ago, the movement of rejection in the country continues: In these two weeks Macron has not stopped being booed in every displacement he has made and there have been pans and pans every other day.
This Monday the unions want to mobilize the streets in a “historic march”, as they have said. Between 500,000 and 600,000 people are expected in the 300 demonstrations planned throughout the country, which is between five and six times more than on any May 1st. In Paris it is expected that there are between 80,000 and 100,000 people on the streets, with a thousand “radical elements”.
The marches have already started in Toulouse, Nantes or Rennes. The demonstration in Paris will start at two in the afternoon in the Republic Square, until the Nation. Interior has prepared a strong security device, with 12,000 police officers deployed, 5,000 in Paris.
The forces of order anticipate tensions and overflows and, to better control the flows and avoid it, some prefectures (government delegations) have decided to use drones in the demonstrations. Paris and those of Lyon, Le Havre, Budeos, Nantes and Rouen have announced it.
It is the first time that this system is used. The measure was adopted in December, within the framework of the global security law, a measure focused primarily on security at the Olympic Games to be held in 2024 in Paris.
Interior maintains that it allows better control of radical groups and “prevent attacks against the safety of people and property.” Some associations have appealed this measure to the courts, considering that it limits freedom of movement, involves excessive control over citizens and hinders freedom of demonstration.
The unions do not want the movement against the pension reform to wane and their leaders meet this Tuesday to decide how to continue with the mobilization. Laurent Berger, leader of the CFDT union, the largest in France, has recognized that the organizations “do not have to make all the decisions together” from now on.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has said she will convene the unions in the coming days to discuss other labor issues, but not pension reform. Two weeks ago they met but the meeting was a failure due to Borne’s refusal to withdraw the reform.
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Council has to rule on the second referendum proposal raised by the left to establish the retirement age at 62 (the reform has delayed it to 64). He already rejected the first one. If he does not authorize it, opponents of the reform have few options left, except to assume that the law is enacted and takes effect in September.
If the Council approves the proposal, the reform would still be applied, but it would be a long and complex process, since almost five million signatures are needed and to date this referendum option has never come to fruition.
Emmanuel Macron has tried to close the chapter on pensions, but the street does not turn the page. For two weeks, after the promulgation of the law, the escraches and pans have not stopped in each trip he has made, with power cuts, whistles and booing, both during his visits and in those made by government ministers .
The pension reform, which seeks to prevent the system from running into deficit, has opened the biggest social crisis in decades. It was promulgated two weeks ago after more than three months of protests, with the entire country against it (70% oppose the law) and after two motions of censure, one of which fell just a few votes short of success and almost knocked down the reform and the government. The French consider that the way to approve it, by decree, without the vote of Parliament, and without popular support, is a contempt for democracy by the president.
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