Pension reform: blockades and actions punch in France after 49.3

The Institute of Political Studies of Lille blocked by students, March 17, 2023. AFP - SAMEER AL-DOUMY

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2 min

Spontaneous demonstrations took place in France, 24 hours after Emmanuel Macron's decision to use 49.3 on this highly contested pension reform. In Paris and several French cities, protesters intend to respond to what they see as contempt on the part of the government.

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Punch actions took place in France, this Friday, March 17, 24 hours after the passage in force of the government to adopt the pension reform. This morning, the Paris ring road was blocked for more than 30 minutes. In the 13th arrondissement, a rally of young people in support of striking garbage collectors took place. Students and high school students joined the mobilization. The police intervened and used tear gas and cleaned the demonstrators.

Some high schools were also blocked, such as the Turgot and Henri-IV high schools in Paris. "The principle of 49.3 is really undemocratic," Raphaëlle, 16, told AFP in the first class at Henri-IV high school, adding that "it is quite symbolic to make this blockade here today, because it was Macron's high school."

Young people also mobilized in Rennes, where a demonstration took place bringing together several thousand people. This March 17 afternoon, a general assembly concerning the continuation of the movement is to take place at the University of Rennes 2.

In Bordeaux, about 200 people, including students, have joined the picket line of railway workers on the forecourt of the St-Jean station, and Montaigne University is occupied.

In Toulon, train traffic was interrupted late morning by a group of protesters on the tracks. Finally, in Marseille, a rally in support of the strikers in the energy sector is taking place at this very moment.

A call to gather at 18 p.m. this Friday, March 17, Place de la Concorde, in Paris, and other cities, is also beginning to circulate on social networks. For Gaylor, an angry citizen in Compiègne, it is no longer useful to demonstrate in the provinces.

We realize that the days pass and the contempt is still great. Me, now, it's the places of power, we have to go there to show them that we are really unhappy. Because we realize that we can do what we want at the provincial level, it never makes you react...

Gaylor, angry citizen of Compiègne (town located 71 km north-east of Paris)

Olivier Chermann

For this weekend, the unions are counting on local mobilizations, before the call for a massive demonstration on Thursday, March 23. In the meantime, strikers at the Total refinery have already planned to shut down the facilities this weekend.

► Read also: Pension reform: two motions of censure filed against the government

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• France
• Social issues
• Employment and Labour
• French politics