A left-wing French politician has issued a chilling threat to Britain’s King Charles III ahead of his state visit as millions prepare to protest on ‘Thursday Homecoming’.
Five thousand police officers were on the streets of Paris today as they prepared for the first day of state-sanctioned marches since President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote.
There have been constant nighttime riots since the measure was imposed by decree last Thursday, and now millions will gather during the day, with France’s biggest airport blocked by protesters this morning.
As anger mounts, the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have been told they will be attacked if, as planned, they arrive in Paris on Sunday for a three-day visit.
A lavish banquet due to take place on Monday at the Palace of Versailles, where Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette lived before they were guillotined, is already scheduled to be moved due to the risk posed by protesters.
A French left-wing politician issued a chilling threat to Britain’s King Charles III (pictured with his wife Camilla, the queen consort) ahead of his state visit as millions prepare to protest on ‘Comeback Thursday’
Five thousand police officers were on the streets of Paris today as they prepared for the first day of state-sanctioned marches since President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote. Pictured: A protester throws a bottle at police officers in Paris on Tuesday amid ongoing unrest over politics.
There have been constant nighttime riots since the measure was imposed by decree last Thursday, and now millions will gather during the day, with France’s biggest airport blocked by protesters this morning.
“This is not the right time,” said Jean-Luc Melenchon, a regular presidential candidate and leader of the France Unbowed party, addressing the royal visit.
‘Mr. King, listen, we have nothing against you here, but you are the King of the English, that is your business, but you must stay away from Versailles.’
The event at Versailles was meant to be the highlight of the State Visit, Charles’s first as monarch.
A concert was to be held in the Royal Chapel, followed by dinner on Duplessis porcelain plates made during the reign of Louis XV.
But protesters, including opposition politicians, have accused Macron of being completely out of touch with the lives of ordinary people.
“It’s incredible,” said MP Sandrine Rousseau. ‘We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the republican monarch meeting with Carlos III while the people in the street demonstrate.
‘Could this really be happening? This is an incredible denial of democracy. ‘Something is happening in this country, is the priority really receiving Carlos III in Versailles?’
Versailles, which was built by the Sun King, Louis XIV, still represents the fabulous wealth and privilege of the royals of France before the revolution.
Trade unionists and other protesters have already vowed to disrupt all events attended by the British monarch, including a trip to the southwestern city of Bordeaux on Tuesday.
Beyond the riots, the protests against Macron in France included the accumulation of some 10,000 tons of rubbish on the streets of Paris after garbage collectors removed their work.
A Buckingham Palace source said the situation in France “was being monitored” but there were no immediate plans to cancel the trip, which begins on Sunday.
Pictured: Passengers walk along the road with their luggage as striking airport workers gather outside Terminal 1 during the ninth day of national strikes and protests against the French government’s pension reform, at the airport in Paris-Charles de Gaulle, near Paris, on March 23.
Pictured: Passengers walk along the road with their luggage as striking airport workers gather outside Terminal 1 during the ninth day of national strikes and protests against the French government’s pension reform, at the airport in Paris-Charles de Gaulle, near Paris, on March 23.
The largest march will be between the Place de la Bastille and the Paris Opera, where most of the 5,000 police officers will gather.
Meanwhile, militant trade unionists closed the access roads to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, causing chaos.
“It’s absolute pandemonium here,” said an aspiring air passenger who asked to be called Trevor, 19. “Taxis are standing still, so we are forced to walk the roads with all our luggage. ‘
A spokesperson for Paris airports confirmed that “Terminal 1 is blocked by activists, as is road access to other areas.” The footage showed dozens of flag-waving protesters gathered outside on a main concourse at the airport.
Such scenes were replicated across France, as oil depots, town halls, ports and other transport links were blocked.
Regional and high-speed trains, the Paris metro, and public transportation systems in other major cities were disrupted. About 30 percent of flights at Paris Orly airport were also cancelled.
The events on Thursday marked the ninth round of nationwide protests and strikes called by France’s eight main unions since January. Violence has escalated in recent days in scattered protests against pension reform and Macron’s leadership.
The French leader stubbornly resists discontent on the streets and said on Wednesday that the government’s bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 must be implemented by the end of the year.
Critics attacked Macron for the statement, describing him as “self-righteous”, “out of touch” and “offensive”. Violence has escalated in recent days in scattered demonstrations against the pension reform and Macron’s leadership, although the mass demonstrations began in an orderly manner.
Protesters staged roadblocks on major highways and junctions to reduce traffic around cities including Lille, Toulouse and Lyon. Train service was suspended in Marseille because protesters were parked near the tracks.
In the northern suburbs of Paris, several dozen unionists blocked a bus station in Pantin, preventing some 200 vehicles from leaving during rush hour.
Nadia Belhoum, a 48-year-old bus driver who took part in the action, criticized Macron’s decision to force a lowering of the retirement age.
Today’s biggest march will be between the Place de la Bastille and the Paris Opera, where most of the 5,000 police officers will gather. Pictured: Protesters attend a demonstration during the ninth day of national strikes and protests against the French government’s pension reform, in Nantes, France, on March 23.
‘The President of the Republic is supposed to… take into consideration the wishes and needs of his people. He is not a king and he should listen to his people.
According to their main union, up to 50 percent of primary school teachers were expected to be on strike.
The French government invoked a constitutional provision last week to have the pension bill passed without the approval of lawmakers. The bill must now pass a review by France’s Constitutional Council before becoming law.
Macron’s government survived two votes of no confidence in the lower house of parliament on Monday.
The 45-year-old centrist president, who is in his second and final term, has repeatedly said he was convinced France’s pension system needed to be changed to keep it funded. Opponents proposed other solutions, including higher taxes for the wealthy or businesses, which Macron said would hurt the economy.
