Buses with demonstrators arrive in the capital Paris from all over France. Tens of thousands of people follow the left-wing camp’s call and protest against the country’s social and climate policies. At the same time, several unions are drumming up a strike.
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris against high prices and “climate passivity”. According to the organizers, 140,000 people took to the streets in the French capital. Left-wing parties, organizations and some trade unions had called for the protest action. Former left-wing populist presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon marched – with his fist raised – alongside the designated Nobel Prize winner for literature, Annie Ernaux.
In addition to Ernaux, around 60 well-known cultural workers had called for the demonstration. Around a hundred buses from all over France brought participants to Paris. The demonstration should lead from the Place de la Nation to the Bastille. The police had expected around 30,000 demonstrators, including troublemakers.
Clémence Guetté, MP for the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise, was pleased with the “demonstration of strength” and said: “Something is waking up and that’s a very good sign.” A banner held near Place de la Nation read: “Social heatwave, the people thirst for justice.” Another sign warned: “The pension is good, the offensive is better.”
Last week, a strike at refineries and petrol depots caused massive fuel shortages in the country. Despite a partial agreement with the unions, workers at TotalEnergies’ five refineries in France continued their strike. Several unions have already called for a strike on Tuesday, particularly on the French railways and in local public transport in Paris.
Not all unions support the left-wing parties’ demonstration. CGT general secretary Philippe Martinez criticized a “parallel action” to the union-organized protests. He doesn’t think much of a national demonstration in Paris, he stressed that his union prefers local protests.
Among other things, the demonstrators called for retirement at 60, an increase in salaries, a price brake, taxation of excess profits and more weight for environmental protection. During the preparations for the demonstration, cracks in the left-green alliance once again became apparent. Former Green presidential candidate Yannick Jadot declined to attend, as did Communist party leader Fabien Roussel.
