The unions want to show the French government, headed by Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne, and behind her the French President, Emmanuel Macron, that they will not give up their struggle against amending the pension system that was previously approved and approved by the Constitutional Council.
French unions expect about 1.5 million people to participate in demonstrations today, Monday, which falls on May 1 (Labour Day), and promise that this day will be “historic and festive.”
The unions want to show the French government, headed by Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne, and behind her the French President, Emmanuel Macron, that they will not give up their struggle against amending the retirement system that was previously approved and approved by the Constitutional Council.
The unions acknowledged that a change in their strategy might occur, depending on the future decisions of the executive authority.
“I think we will see hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, perhaps a million, or half a million,” said Laurent Berger, Secretary General of the CFDT, noting that France will witness about 300 marches.
For its part, the French authority says it expects between 500,000 and 650,000 to participate in demonstrations nationwide, and from 80,000 to 100,000 in the capital, Paris alone.
Air traffic disruptions are expected, with 25 to 33 percent of flights canceled at France’s largest airports, and disruptions are likely to continue at Orly airport on Tuesday.
The marches and demonstrations this Monday will mark the thirteenth day of the general mobilization that the unions are calling for against amending the retirement age law, and come after the Constitutional Council approved the project that President Macron carried and sparked widespread anger in the country.
Previously published opinion polls showed that the majority of French people oppose amending the retirement age.
A group of MPs is set to introduce a new bill to be discussed on June 8, aimed at repealing the law passed by the Bourne government using a controversial constitutional clause, 3-49, without an actual vote on it.
