Demonstrations, closed schools and dribbling trains: France is preparing for an eventful day.

"A rough Thursday", as summarized by the Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune.

On Wednesday, the government spokesman, Olivier Véran, called for the exit of the Council of Ministers that the mobilization does not turn into a "blockage" of the country.

The SNCF provides for "very strongly disturbed" traffic with one TGV in three, or even one in five depending on the line, and barely one TER in ten on average.

The Paris metro will also be reduced to the essentials, with three lines closed, ten others open "only at rush hour" and a "risk of saturation" on the last three, according to the RATP.

The sky will not be spared, since 20% of flights should be canceled at Orly airport, where "delays are to be expected" for the connections maintained, warned the DGAC.

A display panel at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle terminal 2 during an air traffic controller movement on September 16, 2022 © JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP/Archives

Those who opt for the car will still be able to find fuel, even if refineries and oil depots are called to cease their activities for 24 hours.

Many will have to keep their children, however, as 70% of primary school teachers will be on strike and many schools will be entirely closed - "at least a third" in Paris - according to their main union, the Snuipp-FSU.

In the secondary too, "we are moving towards a very well-attended strike", indicates the Snes-FSU.

Blockades of high schools are particularly expected, several youth organizations calling to join the day of action organized by the eight major trade unions.

As for the mobilization in the private sector, the secretary general of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, anticipated on France 2 "in certain large groups, rates of strikers which will be around 60, 70%".

He wanted a renewable movement "wherever possible".

Philippe Martinez after an interview at Matignon on the pension reform project, January 4, 2023 © Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP/Archives

discordant voices

United for the first time in twelve years, the unions are planning rallies in 215 cities according to the CGT, 221 according to the authorities and even 250 according to Solidaires, and hope for a "massive" mobilization exceeding "one million" demonstrators.

A symbolic gauge which would give impetus to a social movement called to register in the long term.

The police unsurprisingly set the bar lower: security sources expect a range of 550,000 to 750,000 demonstrators, including 50,000 to 80,000 in the capital, but also 25,000 in Marseille, 20,000 in Toulouse or Lyon...

Interprofessional mobilization for wages and employment, in Paris on January 27, 2022 © Thomas SAMSON / AFP/Archives

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, announced that more than 10,000 police and gendarmes would be mobilized, including 3,500 in Paris, where the authorities expect the arrival of a few hundred violent elements.

They also anticipate the participation of ultra-left demonstrators in certain cities, such as Rennes or Nantes.

Faced with this broad challenge, the government is working to defend its reform, like the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, boasting to the National Assembly "a project of justice" and affirming that "four out of ten French people, the most fragile, the most modest, those who have difficult jobs, will be able to leave before the age of 64".

Or his Minister of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, taking over in the Hemicycle to promote the rise in small pensions - "we protect the purchasing power of the oldest" - key to a political agreement with the right.

Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt during questions to the government at the National Assembly in Paris on January 17, 2023 © Thomas SAMSON / AFP/Archives

Arguments that struggle to convince public opinion, which polls still show as a majority opposed to the postponement of the legal age.

On the political side, the leaders of the left-wing opposition displayed their unity on Tuesday evening, urging their troops to "shake the walls of the Elysée".

At the other end of the political spectrum, the deputy Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, president of Debout la France, indicated that he would participate "for the first time in a demonstration at the initiative of the trade unions".

Even within the majority, discordant voices are raised, such as that of deputy Patrick Vignal: "If it does not change, I will not vote for this law".

His colleague Barbara Pompili either "could not vote for", because "at this stage" the project involves too many "social injustices".

© 2023 AFP