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From 450,000 to 1.5 million protesters took to the streets against the pension reform according to the different accounts of the organizers and the police. Incidents have occurred in particular events in Nantes, Paris, Rennes or Lille.
It is a black Thursday of strikes in France with a strong mobilization, according to the police 450 000 people are on the street against the pension reform, the future " universal system " of retreats by points, supposed to replace the 42 existing regimes. For some activists, this mobilization is record. " We have not seen this since the mobilization against the pension reform in 2010, " enthused Dominique Holle, CGT activist in the procession in Clermont-Ferrand. For its part, the CGT announces between 1.4 and 1.5 million people at events with only 250,000 people for the Paris event.
Many professions are on the street, teachers, retirees, students, lawyers, but also railway workers. The police also protested against this reform despite a letter from the Minister of the Interior to reassure the police unions. Numerous strikers are also to be counted at EDF in the context of a tense network, according to the CGT, because of the cold.
The Paris procession on Boulevard Magenta, video taken by our reporter @ RosieReporter # Greve5December #GreveGenerale pic.twitter.com/2oYSLWaXLP
RFI (@RFI) December 5, 2019# 5december Firefighters are also in the # # GreveGenerale event # greve5decembre pic.twitter.com/ROgPRUfffC
Henrique Valadares (@Hen_Valadares) December 5, 2019The demonstrations were also strained at times with incidents at the beginning of the demonstration in Lille, the use of tear gas following " fireworks fire on BAC police " in Nantes, tensions in Rennes and in Paris.
In Paris, the atmosphere oscillates between a very calm trade union procession and violence with the police. Overflows slowed throughout the afternoon the course of the demonstration in Paris which was stuck at his departure Place de la République. It was early evening that the demonstrators were able to advance to the Place de la Nation.
A construction trailer was returned and burned near the Labor Exchange, not far from the Place de la Republique, and several broken windows while the police wiped projectiles and responded with tear gas fire according to our journalists on the spot.
A van would be on fire down Magenta Boulevard, report our reporters on the spot @PaulineGleize and @ pierreolivier89
Photo: Pierre Olivier # Strike5December #General Strike pic.twitter.com/RUzijLQk9J
On the executive side, the Elysee indicates that President Emmanuel Macron is " calm and determined to lead this reform, in listening and consultation, " adding that " the Prime Minister will speak towards the middle of the week next on the general architecture of the reform ".
At the end of the Council of Ministers held at the Elysee Palace on the day of the strike against the pension reform, the spokesman of the government said that the discussion on the modalities of the text was still open and that it did not depend on the scale of the demonstrations.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe hailed the good organization of the demonstrations and "paid tribute to the trade union organizations ". " The demonstrations went well almost everywhere in France and it is important to emphasize, " said the head of government.
Sibeth Ndiaye, government spokesman 05/12/2019 - by RFI Play
This Friday, December 6, the strike is expected to further disrupt transportation. The SNCF specifies that 90% of TGVs and 70% of regional links will be canceled. Air France announced Thursday the cancellation of 30% of its domestic flights and nearly 10% of its medium-haul flights the next day. Renewal of the strike also at the RATP, the Paris transport authority until Monday, 11 subway lines were closed today.