Protests kick off in Nice and Nantes, as opposition to pension reform shows no signs of waning

Record ID: 1717563

  • Title: Protests kick off in Nice and Nantes, as opposition to pension reform shows no signs of waning
  • Date: 28th March 2023
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PROTESTER DRESSED AS CELT, WITH SIGN ON HIS HAT THAT READS (French): "CGT, NO TO 64 YEARS OLD" VARIOUS OF UNION MEMBERS STANDING AROUND THE EFFIGY OF FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON ON GROUND PROTESTER WITH RED PAINT ON HER FACE / PROTESTERS THROWING MACRON EFFIGY UP IN THE AIR CGT UNION MEMBERS GATHERED NANTES, FRANCE (MARCH 28, 2023) (REUTERS) PROTESTER PUTTING UP BANNERS / BANNERS THAT READ (French): "YOU PUT US AT 64 (RETIREMENT AGE), WE RE-DO MAY 1968" AND "MACRONIE - THIEVING STATE" PROTESTER HOLDING UP FORCE OUVRIERE UNION FLAG PROTESTER NOEL CASSIN HOLDING UP PLACARD THAT READS (French): "WORKING FROM 16-64 YEARS OLD - GUARANTEED TO BE LAID IN A COFFIN" (SOUNDBITE) (French) 69-YEAR-OLD RETIRED POSTMAN AND PROTESTER, NOEL CASSIN, SAYING: "It's the tenth time that I've come (to protest), to defend let's say the right to refuse to work until 64 years old, actually until death. I don't feel directly affected, because I'm retired. So I feel empathy in a world where everyone is just thinking of themselves, so it's good to be here and to show solidarity." SIGN ON CAR THAT READS (French): "THE TRASH WILL BE COLLECTED ONCE THE PENSION REFIL BILL IS IN IT" PROTESTER EMMY HERTHE AND FRIEND STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (French) 21-YEAR-OLD LAW STUDENT AND PROTESTER, EMMY HERTHE SAYING: "We've only protested once, last week. Everything was going well until police forces started becoming violent. Before that, everything was okay, we were marching, with music. In my opinion, it's often that violence starts to manifest once police forces begin throwing tear gas, and so on."
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2023 10:21
  • Keywords: Emmanuel Macron demonstration pension reitrement
  • Location: NICE AND NANTES, FRANCE
  • City: NICE AND NANTES, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Europe,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002081928032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Protests kicked off in several cities in France on Tuesday (March 28), as public anger over pension reforms has evolved into broader anti-macron sentiment.
    Millions of people have been demonstrating, largely peacefully, and joining strike action since mid-January to show their opposition to Macron's plans to make most of them work an extra two years to 64.
    The protests have intensified since the government used special constitutional powers to bypass parliament on a final vote on the pensions bill almost two weeks ago, bringing scenes of chaos reminiscent of unrest by supporters of the yellow-vest movement during Macron's first term as president.
    Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Monday (March 27) said authorities had seen a trend towards more violence directed against the state and were anticipating a "very serious risk to public order" at demonstrations expected in cities including Paris, Lyon, Nantes, and Bordeaux.
    A total of 13,000 police will be deployed during the protests throughout the day, more than ever before, Darmanin said.
    Laurent Berger, the head of France's largest union, the CFDT, urged Macron to show "a gesture of appeasement" to calm things down.
    Macron, who promised to deliver a pensions system reform in both of his presidential campaigns, says the reform is needed to keep the country's finances in balance. Unions and opposition parties say there are other ways to do that.
    (Production: Eric Gaillard, Stephane Mahe, Manuel Ausloos, Michaela Cabrera)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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