Burn cars and break out conflicts! Nearly a million strike in fourth round of protests in France

　　China News Service, February 13th, according to comprehensive foreign media reports, France ushered in the fourth round of strike protests. Nearly one million people took to the streets in many cities on the 11th to protest against the government’s extension of the retirement age from 62 to 64. And postpone the full pension age.

　　Reuters quoted the French Interior Ministry as saying that an estimated 963,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country.

Paris police said about 93,000 people marched in the capital Paris, compared with 80,000 in the first round of strikes on January 19.

However, French trade unions said half a million people marched in Paris.

A protester holds a sign that says "oppose the extension of the retirement age to 64" during a demonstration against plans to postpone the French retirement age in Paris, February 11, 2023.

　　Unlike the past three rounds of demonstrations, this time there was no call for a nationwide strike, but the air traffic controllers at the second airport in Paris suddenly announced a strike, resulting in the cancellation of half of the flights.

　　Agence France-Presse quoted TV footage as saying that the banner behind the demonstrators read "Refused to work!" The police clashed with some demonstrators, cars and trash cans were burned, and the police used tear gas and flash grenades to disperse the demonstrators.

The Paris police said that as of 6:30 p.m. that day, 10 people had been arrested.

Protesters stand by a burning fire in Paris, February 11, 2023, to protest plans to raise the French retirement age.

　　In a joint statement before the march, France's main trade unions unanimously called on the government to withdraw the pension reform bill.

Earlier, the French government announced plans to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which was strongly opposed by trade unions.

　　President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that reforming the pension system is crucial to ensure that the retirement system is balanced.

　　Xiao Wo, a 40-year-old firefighter, said that it is crucial to oppose the reform. "Our life expectancy is lower than most people" and we have to work for another two years. "The government has not considered our difficulties."

　　The unions said in a joint statement that they would call for a nationwide strike on March 7 that would "bring France to a standstill" if the government "turns a deaf ear to popular mobilization".