The Strike Continues In France! Life in the Country Has Stopped!
The third of the massive strikes against the controversial pension reform in France has begun. While thousands of people took to the streets, transportation in the country came to a standstill and services were suspended in many sectors.
While the government continues to discuss the reform bill that envisages raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in the Parliament, the third major strike against this reform started with the participation of many unions, especially the General Workers’ Union. (CGT).
According to the news in the French press, employees of the basic service sectors, including energy, transportation, refinery and shipyard employees, participated in many cities, especially in Paris.
As part of the strikes expected to be protested across the country, the electricity production of EDF, France’s main energy provider, was reduced by 2,500 megawatts.
While most of the train, metro and bus services were canceled, long queues formed on the roads due to the high vehicle traffic.
The French General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has called on airline companies to cancel one of 5 flights at Paris Airport due to the controllers’ strike.
On the other hand, teachers and students across the country joined the strike for support.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that 11 thousand police and gendarmerie were deployed across the country, 4,000 of them in Paris, due to the strikes and demonstrations that took place today.
Controversial PENSION REFORM
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced the content of the pension reform, which is among President Emmanuel Macron’s election promises, on January 10.
He added that in the country where the retirement age is 62, the legal retirement age will be increased gradually by 3 months each year, to 64 in 2030, and in 2027, a premium payment obligation will be introduced for 43 years old. one year to receive a full pension.
Millions of people staged strikes and protests across the country on January 19 and 31 against the controversial reform.
