Within the framework of a series of protests and demonstrationsPrime Minister of France, Elisabeth Bornemade a call for dialogue for the main French union, to which its leader replied that will accept the proposal only if the Government withdraws the pension reform that unleashed the social conflict.
“Only if the outstretched hand is to rediscuss work and pensions, and put the reform aside for the moment… If these two issues are on the table, we will discuss”assured Lawrence Bergerleader of the reformist union French Democratic Confederation of Labour, in dialogue with the television channel France 2.
Since January, the country ruled by Emmanuel Macron became the scene of a strong social conflict that deepened on March 16, after the president The delay of the retirement age will be applied by decree from 62 to 64 years from 2030.
A few days later, the French government set out to move on with other issues and terminate the matter of the remodeling. However, the demonstrators sustained their protests and these became increasingly hard and crowdedcoming to summon more than a million people to the streets.
“The pension law was left behind,” insisted on Monday the government spokesman, Olivier Veranin line with the objective of the authorities to calm the situation and redirect attention to their next projects.
France: violence grows in protests for the reform and the government rejects a “pause”
Faced with the resistance of the demonstrators, this Sunday the French Prime Minister announced that she is “at the disposal” of the unions, collectives and political parties to appease things, although he reaffirmed in an interview with the agency AFP what “the reform will continue its course”.
In this context, last Thursday March 23, the mass protests led to strong disturbances that left a total of 457 detainees and 441 police officers and gendarmes injured. Scenario in which Berger, a union leader, asked the French president to “pause” the reform, a request that Macron rejected.
“The country cannot stop, we keep moving forward”argued the president, who stated that he will be available to the unions after the Constitutional Council rules on the validity of the reform, which, for the moment, will continue with its “democratic path” until it can be enacted.
The pension reform that unleashed chaos
France collapsed for protests and demonstrations increasingly aggressive since the beginning of the year, when the government announced the draft pension reform what Delays retirement age from 62 to 64from 2030, and that requires contributing 43 years instead of 42 to obtain a full pension.
Although the protests and calls began as peaceful, they hardened and turned violent after the reform was adopted by the government on March 16. decree by President Emmanuel Macron, out of fear of losing the vote in Parliament.
Since then, hundreds of people have protested on the French streets, mainly in Paris, waiting for the authorities to reverse their decision. However, the president has already declared that he will not back down, although he assumes the “unpopularity” what the reform entails.
In addition, the French president spoke out against the excessive violence of the demonstrations last Thursday, where more than 400 security agents were injured and more than 450 protesters were arrested. “In a democracy, violence is not a right”sentenced in the face of future protests that are planned for this Tuesday.
Emmanuel Macron broke the silence and the unions promised more protests
Faced with this scenario, the aforementioned trade union leader Berger, through the Radio RTLhe proposed to the president “A time of listening, dialogue and putting the pension reform on hold”requesting six months to review the situation and “put things back on track.”
However, the Government defends its position and maintains the pension reform which aims, according to the authorities, avoid a future deficit in the pension fundkey for the official’s second term until 2027.
The visit of Carlos III was postponed
As a consequence of the massive protests, the French president was forced to postpone the visit of King Charles III It was scheduled to start on Sunday and end on Wednesday. According to the president, it could take place “at the beginning of the summer”, at which time he hopes to go through a much calmer situation than the current one.
“We would not be serious and would err on the side of common sense if we proposed to the king and queen consort to come for a state visit in the midst of the demonstrations”Macron said at a press conference in Brussels after a European summit.
For its part, Buckingham Palace announced that the royal couple “looks forward with great interest to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”
AS. CP
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