France: low mobilization for the 14th day against the pension reform

After five months of mobilization against the pension reform, unions and demonstrators marched Tuesday, June 6 throughout the France. This 14th day, however, is marked by the lowest level of participation since the beginning of the social movement in January, according to figures from both the authorities and the unions. They see the end of the "match" with an attempt to repeal badly engaged in the Assembly on Thursday, but intend to "remain united" to weigh on other subjects.

The Parisian procession against the pension reform, June 6, 2023. © Vasile Damian / RFI

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No jolt for the baroud of honor. More than a month after the May 1 protests, the processions against the pension reform were more scattered than ever, all over France. The first figures of some 250 processions announced were at the bottom of the range, with between 4,000 people (prefecture) and 50,000 (CGT) in Marseille, between 8,000 and 50,000 in Toulouse, between 5,500 and 10,000 in Rennes or 2,900 to 6,000 in Rouen.

Even in protest strongholds, the numbers are the lowest recorded in nearly five months. In Nantes, they were 8,600 according to the police, 20,000 according to the organizers – even lower than March 11, the low point of the movement so far.

Authorities were expecting between 400,000 and 600,000 people throughout the France, including 40,000 to 70,000 in Paris, where the procession shook around 14:25 p.m. (12:25 p.m. GMT) from the Invalides to the Place d'Italie. Out of a total of 11,000 police and gendarmes throughout the France, nearly 4,000 are leading the demonstration in the capital, where a thousand radicals are expected, according to the executive.

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The match is ending, like it or not, with this unknown of what will happen Thursday in the Assembly, "said Tuesday the number one of the CFDT, Laurent Berger. He called on the unions to "weigh in the balance of power to come" on other issues such as wages or working conditions.

CFDT leader Laurent Berger says that "the 64-year-olds will never be accepted" and "the government will pay a high price"

Nathanaël Vittrant

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We want real negotiations ", warned at his side the number one of the CGT, Sophie Binet. Stressing that "pensions will always remain a struggle", she highlighted the objective of "winning concrete progress". "The inter-union will remain united," she added, judging "likely that there will be other demonstrations in view of the anger in the country".

« Express anger »

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This movement made it possible to express anger ", noted Michel Moulbach, a 60-year-old construction worker and CGT union member in the Lille procession, adding that "we must be realistic" and that as the holidays approach, "it will be difficult not to take a break".

The nurse and secretary general of the CFDT-Santé Évelyne Rescanières explains that it is normal to have a smaller mobilization than on May 1st. Despite this, she still wants to believe it.

According to the head of the CFDT-Santé Évelyne Rescanières, "it is still worth showing that we are against this reform"

Nathanaël Vittrant

Tensions between demonstrators and police were noted in Lyon, Toulouse, Rennes and Nantes. While the previous demonstration in Lyon had already been the scene of violence, this procession has several incidents, with broken bus shelters, damaged and tagged windows, burnt garbage cans and several clashes between a group of about 400 thugs and the police, who have repeatedly used tear gas.

Unlike previous days, few disruptions were recorded in schools (5.67% of teachers on strike on average, according to the ministry), as in transport, even if a third of flights are canceled from Paris-Orly.

Some punch actions punctuated the morning in the Paris region: the headquarters of the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Olympic Games was briefly invaded by CGT activists and electricians proceeded to a power cut in Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine).

The union leaders held their traditional press briefing in front of the Assembly, symbolically marking the link with Thursday, when a bill from the Liot group to repeal the reform will be examined.

► READ ALSO: France: the State sentenced for filing anti-pension reform protesters in custody

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Huge democratic anomaly" in case of non-vote on repeal

But the presidential camp intends to move forward. As proof, the first two implementing decrees, including the one gradually raising the legal retirement age to 64, were published on Sunday 4 June in the Official Journal.

On Thursday, Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet is expected to draw Article 40 of the Constitution – which prohibits parliamentarians from tabling amendments with a financial impact – to block the Liot text. In unison with the left and the Liot deputies, Sophie Binet pleaded that it is "essential to let Parliament vote" at the risk of a "huge democratic anomaly". But for Laurent Berger, "it's not off to a good start".

For the right, "the match is played," said the leader of the senators LR Bruno Retailleau on Sud Radio. But on the left, the leader of the France Insoumise (LFI) party Jean-Luc Mélenchon promised Tuesday that "the struggle will continue" against the reform even if he admitted he did not know "in what form".

The debate must be held "in the democratic framework and respect for the Constitution," said Monday the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of a trip to Mont-Saint-Michel. The government plans to hold a multilateral meeting in mid-June, either at Matignon or at the Élysée, with unions and employers.

There is little enthusiasm for the prospect in the union ranks, with some unions already claiming not to be present.

► READ ALSO: France: the issue of pensions still ignites the National Assembly

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