Protests on the constitutionality of divisive retirement reforms: France’s president Emmanuel Macron and the mobilisation of the GGT
Protesters forced their way into the Paris headquarters of luxury giant LVMH, as France saw a fresh round of demonstrations over government plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
“If Macron wants to find money to finance the pension system, he should come here to find it,” Fabien Villedieu, a union leader, told CNN affiliate BFMTV outside the LVMH building.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez warned in advance that protesters might “hit out, often against what they see as capitalist signs,” speaking on French radio RMC.
A day before a crucial court ruling on the constitutionality of the divisive pension reforms, up to 600,000 people are expected to take to the streets across France.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron argues reforms are essential to rein in public finances, and has been standing firm, this week saying “the country must continue to move forward.”
Speaking at an incinerator picket line near Paris on Thursday morning, Sophie Binet, the new head of the GGT, one of France’s main unions, insisted: “As long as the pension reform is not withdrawn, the mobilization will continue one way or another.”
“On the eve of the decision of the constitutional council, I am once again supporting the mobilisations in Paris and everywhere in France,” Hidalgo tweeted.
Friday’s ruling will be decisive on whether the protests will continue. The main union in France is more willing to negotiate a settlement.
The CGT strike in France: how far is France from the US? An expert in French constitutional law tells CNN Paris of the “gardabage” protests
Garbage is once more going to fill the streets of Paris in the wake of the strike by the CGT union.
Heightened security is in place in the French capital Paris as the country braces for a crucial ruling on the constitutionality of divisive changes to France’s pension system.
The Constitutional Council in Paris, France’s equivalent to the US supreme court, has been barricaded ahead of a decision that could see France raise its retirement age from 62 to 64.
CNN spoke with an expert in French constitutional law who said that the police operation to protect the court is unprecedented. “As far back as I can remember, I’ve never seen images like this before,” Laureline Fontaine said.
In the course of a year, protests have paralyzed major services across the country andriled opposition lawmakers and unions. Garbage has been accumulating on the streets of Paris.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/14/europe/france-pension-reform-ruling-intl/index.html
The 12th nationwide day of protests against the Green-lit retirement age – a triumph for the Chancellor and the Trade Unions –
There are several possible outcomes to Friday’s ruling. The law will go into effect if it is green-lit. The first retirees will have to wait an additional three months for their state pensions. By the year of 2007, the retirement age will have reached 64.
There could also be a partial strike down of the law. If only part of it is deemed unconstitutional, the court can opt to pass the remainder of the legislation into law. This would likely be seen as a triumph for Macron, who would be able to offer dialogue to trade unions.
Thursday marked the 12th nationwide day of protests against the proposals. There were hundreds of thousands on the streets, but the interior ministry’s turnout figure – 380,000 – was less than that of the previous protests.
France is one of the countries where the pension age is moving towards 67, which means it will not be as high as Europe or other developed economies.
The retirement age in the United States and the UK is between 66 and 67 for people born in 1967. Current legislation envisages a further rise from 67 to 68 in Britain between 2044 and 2046 (although the timing of this increase is being reviewed and could change).