France: after a "historic mobilization", the unions appeal to Emmanuel Macron

Signs and smoke bombs brandished during the Parisian demonstration on March 7 against the pension reform.

© AFP - ALAIN JOCARD

Text by: RFI Follow

5 mins

Successful test: for this sixth day of strikes and demonstrations for pensions in France, the CGT identified 3.5 million walkers, this Tuesday, March 7, more than the day of January 31 (2.5 million people) .

According to figures from the Ministry of the Interior, there were 1.28 million on the streets of the country, against 1.27 million on January 31.

The inter-union calls for mobilization on March 11.

Until then, it's International Women's Day this Wednesday.

Some intend to lead feminism and social struggle at the same time.

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Ironically for the parliamentary agenda, the Parisian demonstration ended around 7 p.m., a few minutes before the examination of the postponement of the legal retirement age by the senators began.

An examination coming to close this 6th day of mobilization very followed everywhere in France.

In the provinces on Tuesday, the number of demonstrators was close, even sometimes higher, than during the great mobilization of January 31, with records broken in Brest or even in Pau.

In Paris, unions and police will not agree on the figures (700,000 for the CGT, 81,000 according to the prefecture).

The Parisian procession will have been marked by some clashes, between a thousand violent elements and the police.

Some tensions also in Nantes, Lyon or Rennes.

The rate of strikers experienced a slight erosion among railway workers and teachers.

Finally, blockages took place in universities and high schools.

Many roadblocks have been identified on the national territory, wild cuts of electricity also taking place in the north of the country.

Fuel shipments were blocked on Tuesday morning at the exit of " 

", according to a union source.

►Read again: Movement for pensions in France: the most followed day so far

An eye on this day of March 8

This day also marks a turning point in the fight against pension reform with a first renewable strike which will continue this Wednesday, March 8, and perhaps in the days to come.

Because hardly the day of Tuesday finished, it is already the mobilization of the next days in all the spirits.

This Wednesday, moreover, note that feminist unions and associations have already made an appointment in several cities in France for International Women's Rights Day.

Some want to harden the movement and intensify it with, for example, the convergence of certain struggles, therefore.

It is no longer just the CGT which calls for mobilization, it is all the fringes of society.

Working longer has effects on the climate, it has effects on women's purchasing power... All these demands are correlated.

Report: in Paris, a small air of convergence of struggles

Pierre Olivier

Towards a vote in the Senate by Sunday?

After this Tuesday of social mobilization against the pension reform of the Borne government, the unions speak of a “ 

 ” day, in unison.

They asked to be received " 

 " by President Emmanuel Macron, and denounced his " 

 ", described as " 

 ".

The Élysée did not respond directly to this request from the unions and was content to ensure that " 

" to discuss this flagship reform for the Head of State.

" 

," also launched the inter-union in its statement.

The eight organizations thus brought together have already called for a new day on Saturday March 11, as well as for a new interprofessional mobilization from next week.

Before the departure of the Parisian procession, it was the secretary general of the CFDT Laurent Berger who hailed a " 

 ", his CGT counterpart Philippe Martinez warning the executive against a " 

 " which " 

 ".

The government hopes for a vote in the Senate by Sunday, and is considering " 

" in both chambers.

Until then, this Tuesday will have been that of the launch or continuation of renewable strikes in key sectors such as transport, refineries, energy, trade and waste.

Noisy exchanges at the Bourbon Palace

As the Senate advances, in the National Assembly, questions to the government were also the scene of passes of arms on Tuesday.

The oppositions have thus called on the government to withdraw its project, like the deputy Manuel Bompard, of the party La France insoumise (LFI), member of Nupes.

We are living through the biggest day of strikes and protests in 50 years.

All the unions have called for the blocking of the country, two thirds of the French support them in this process.

But you are turning a deaf ear.

You cannot rule alone against everyone.

There's no shame in backing down, others have done it before you.

In 1995, it took three weeks of strikes for the abandonment of the Juppé plan.

When are you finally going to withdraw your legislation?

Manuel Bompard, LFI deputy

Aurelien Devernoix

A call obviously rejected by the government.

The Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt notably accused the rebellious of wanting to " 

 " to the detriment of the French.

You call for blocking.

You call, to use the expression of a trade union official, to bring the economy to its knees.

But to bring the economy to its knees is to bring the workers to their knees.

You make the choice of excess, you make the choice of grand declarations, you make the choice of blocking.

We have chosen debate and discussion, you have chosen obstruction.

You have made the choice of irresponsibility, and you have a choice which is ultimately to dodge.

Dodging responsibility, not looking to the future, not facing the challenges.

Our majority is responsible for you.

Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Labor

Aurelien Devernoix

(

AFP)

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• France

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• International Women's Day

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• Emmanuel Macron

• Unions

• Elisabeth Borne