Europe 1 with AFP 6:35 p.m., January 28, 2023

This Saturday, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of rebellious France, said he wanted the unions to "allow" the forthcoming organization of a "very big march" against the pension reform "for a weekend".

This with the aim of further mobilization, three days before a new inter-union day.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon said this Saturday that he would like the unions to "allow" the forthcoming organization of a "very large march" against the pension reform "during a weekend" for further mobilization, three days before a new inter-union day against the government's project.

"I hope that you will be involved in this action as much as possible. If there are calls to demonstrate, demonstrate. We are fortunate to have all our unions united and all the organizations of the United Nations united for this 31 January," said Jean-Luc Mélenchon in Villiers-le-Bel during the New Year's Eve ceremony for La France Insoumise deputy Carlos Martens Bilongo.

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"They must be able to participate in the fight"

"I hope that the unions will allow and call for a very large march to take place over a weekend. Why over a weekend? Because during the week, you cannot take action, for example the strike, than those who are at work. Which is not always easy for them, but they are there", he continued.

"But you must think that there are more than two million students, of whom only a million - half - are working, precariously but working. You have several million pensioners, several hundred thousand people who cannot go at work", argued the former presidential candidate.

"They must be able to participate in the fight. All together! Salaried workers, unemployed, retired, students, high school students even if necessary, and it is necessary, all together, we are the people", launched Jean- Luc Melenchon.

The leader of La France insoumise accused the government "of setting up an integral market society, where everything is a market and everything is merchandise".

The pension reform project will be examined Monday in committee at the National Assembly, before a new day of demonstrations on Tuesday.

The first, on January 19, gathered in the street between 1.12 and 2 million people.