- Title: 'Fed up' protesters march in Paris in pension reform fight
- Date: 23rd March 2023
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 23, 2023) (REUTERS) PENSION REFORM PROTERSTERS AND UNION FLOATS GATHERED ON PLACE DE LA BASTILLE SQUARE PROTESTERS, BANNER READING (French): “Macron dictator†PROTESTERS ON SQUARE PROTESTERS AT BOTTOM OF BASTILLE OBELISK, ONE HOLDING FRENCH FLAG PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN WITH PICTURE OF FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, IN ROYAL ATTIRE AND TEXT READING (French): “Macron disdainful of the republic†PROTESTER MARCHING WITH MOCK GUILLOTINE SIGN ON PROTESTER MARCHING THAT READS (French): “I love my pension†PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING, ONE WAVING YELLOW VEST IN AIR PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS, CHANTING PROTESTERS ON SQUARE, FLARE SMOKE (SOUNDBITE) (French) CGT UNION REPRESENTATIVE, CARL LEFRANCOIS, SAYING: “We’re here today because it’s out of the question to once again raise the retirement age. You have to understand that some people work in difficult conditions, and today, these people are told that not only do they have to work longer, but also, nothing prevents them (government) in the future to restart this type of bills. It’s time for them to understand that people also want to enjoy their lives. We’re not here to die on the job, we’re here to be able to enjoy life one day, too.†PROTESTER MARCHING, HOLDING SIGN THAT READS (French): “Paris, get up, stand up†STICKER ON PROTESTER’S SWEATER THAT READS (French): “60 years old at maximum†PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD THAT READS (French): “The price of exploitation is paid in suffering, but also in violence†VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING NEAR SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (French) ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL WORKER, SOPHIE MENDY, SAYING: “I came here because I oppose this reform and I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything, the Article 49.3 (that Macron used to bypass parliament vote on reform) and all that. We’re not being represented, and so we’re fed up.†PLACARD IN FORM OF CIGARETTE PACKET WITH TEXT READING (French): “Working kills†/ PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS MARCHING UNION LEADERS, INCLUDING CGT HEAD, PHILIPPE MARTINEZ, AND CFDT HEAD, LAURENT BERGER, MARCHING PROTESTER WITH SIGN READING (French): “I’m waiting for the end of their world†PROTESTERS MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNEMPLOYED PARISIAN, EMMA, SAYING: “They should not underestimate the importance of citizen movements, we should not give up and stay mobilised until the end. They should know that 3 percent of the population are mobilizing for a revolution, so at any point, a citizen movement could change things. Of course, we should not give up, it’s now more than ever that everything is at stake.†PROTESTERS, PLACARD READING (French): “49.3 – climate of anger†STICKER ON PROTESTER READING (French): “Workers can undo what the government does through strikes†PROTESTERS CROWD OF PROTESTERS AT PLACE DE LA BASTILLE, SOME DANCING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY EMPLOYEE, ARNAUD COSTERG, SAYING: “I think it can change if we can last longer and if the protests can stay for at least one month. And we have to block the country in a strong way that the government cannot ignore the people’s will.†VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ON SQUARE
- Embargoed: 6th April 2023 15:23
- Keywords: France Macron Paris Place de la Bastille pension reform protest
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001969823032023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Protesters angry with President Emmanuel Macron and his plan to raise the pension age marched in Paris on Thursday (March 23) in a day of demonstrations across France.
Thousands held up signs, while one protester carried a mock guillotine, and chanted anti-Macron slogans as they marched around the French capital to denounce the government's plans by two years to 64.
"It’s time for them to understand that people also want to enjoy their lives. We’re not here to die on the job, we’re here to be able to enjoy life one day, too,†CGT unionist Carl Lefrancois said.
Opinion polls have long shown that a majority of voters were opposed to delaying retirement age by two years to 64.
Macron broke weeks of silence on the new policy to say he would stand firm and the law would come into force by the end of the year. He compared the protests to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Voters were further angered by the government's decision last week to push the pension changes through parliament without a vote and by Macron's comments on Wednesday.
"I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything... We’re not being represented, and so we’re fed up,†protester Sophie Mendy said.
Protests against the new law, which also accelerates a planned increase in the number of years one must work to draw a full pension, have drawn huge crowds in rallies organized by unions since January.
Most have been peaceful but anger has mounted since the government bypassed a vote in the lower house of parliament, where it does not have an absolute majority and was not sure to get enough support.
Since then, the past seven nights have seen demonstrations in Paris and other cities with rubbish bins set ablaze and clashes with police.
The latest wave of protests represents the most serious challenge to the president's authority since the
"Yellow Vest" revolt four years ago.
“I think it can change if we can last longer and if the protests can stay for at least one month. And we have to block the country in a strong way that the government cannot ignore the people’s will,†pharmaceutical company worker Arnaud Costerg said.
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