Train tracks blocked, protesters gather in Paris in pension reform battle

Record ID: 1717591

  • Title: Train tracks blocked, protesters gather in Paris in pension reform battle
  • Date: 28th March 2023
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 28, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2023 12:59
  • Keywords: France Macron Veran negotiations pension reform protest rail workers train station unions
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Civil Unrest
  • Reuters ID: LVA003087828032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of railways workers walked on train tracks in central Paris to block train traffic on Tuesday (March 28) as thousands were set to march around the French capital on the tenth day of nationwide demonstrations against the government's pension reform.
    SNCF workers who were on strike, some holding flares marched on the rails of the Gare de Lyon, disrupting train traffic.
    In central Paris, on the Place de la Republique square, hundreds started gathering to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's push to raise the retirement age by two years to 64, which was passed in parliament without a vote.
    "We can see that there is massive anger among the population today, and really, everyone agrees that this law should not go into effect," protester Mimosa Effe said. "We still have hope that the government will give in and withdraw this reform, because what's sure is that we will not stop."
    Millions of people have been demonstrating, largely peacefully, and joining strike action since mid-January to show their opposition to Macron's plans.
    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.
    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: Lucien Libert, Yiming Woo, Horaci Garcia, Ardee Napolitano)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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