United against the postponement of the legal age to 64, the eight main French unions (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, Solidaires, FSU) intend to continue to put pressure on the executive, after two successful days to more than a million demonstrators - according to the authorities.

"You can't be a deputy and not watch how many people are demonstrating in your constituency!" Launched CFDT leader Laurent Berger in La Croix on Tuesday.

The battle for pensions has indeed started since Monday in the Assembly in a stormy atmosphere.

Preludes to electric debates, the rejection motion tabled by the left was rejected at the start of the evening before the RN's referendum request to challenge the reform was also rejected by the Assembly.

On the second day of the examination of the text, the deputies will have an eye on the mobilizations which could however mark time, as in the key sector of transport where the strikes will have a little less impact on the traffic.

The circulation of trains and metros will still remain "strongly disrupted" at SNCF and RATP.

The promise of a new day of "galley" for Walid Dabour, a resident of Yvelines who "moves all the time to go to different sites".

For others, the solution, without transport, will rhyme with "teleworking".

Fewer strikers expected also among teachers, beginning of the winter holidays requires.

The FSU did not provide figures for primary schools this time.

Actions in high schools and universities are not excluded, as in Rennes-2 where the students voted to block on Monday.

With more than 200 rallies planned in the country, a security source evokes a range of 900,000 to 1.1 million demonstrators, including 70,000 maximum in Paris.

To control the crowds, 11,000 police and gendarmes will be mobilized, including 4,000 in the capital, where more than 1,000 "yellow vests" and 400 "radicals" are expected.

"A democratic problem"

The unions know that it will be difficult for them to exceed the record of January 31 - 1.27 million according to the police.

Also the N.1 of the CFDT projects itself towards the next day of Saturday: "we want to make it a labor day, with peaceful and festive processions".

"Until then the demonstrations on Tuesday I could not because of work, but on Saturday I will go", illustrates André Sivanos who lives in Val d'Oise.

But the outcome remains uncertain.

"If we are not heard, I think that the climate will greatly deteriorate", predicts the number one of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, fearing "a democratic problem" if the deputies "vote laws which are contrary to what wants the people".

His troops are ready to raise their voices next week, especially in energy.

"If we have to move towards a wider blockage, we will probably go", warns the boss of the CGT-Energie, Fabrice Coudour.

Not enough to back down a government determined to keep Emmanuel Macron's campaign promise.

"It's reform or bankruptcy," said the Minister of Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal.

"Immobilism is not allowed," insists his colleague, Olivier Dussopt.

Weakened by suspicions of "favoritism" in the awarding of a public contract when he was mayor of Annonay (Ardèche), the Minister of Labor said he was "open to improvements" on the substance of the text.

After the concessions granted on small pensions, then long careers, he spoke of a "progress report" in Parliament, before the presidential election of 2027. A new hand extended to the right, whose votes will be crucial to avoid the executive to resort to the weapon of 49.3.

The chances that all these subjects will be discussed are however minimal: more than 20,000 amendments have been tabled, mainly by the left, making it unlikely that a vote will be taken before the February 17 deadline.

© 2023 AFP