La Dépêche du Midi: France braces for fresh protests against Macron's pension reform

French newspaper La Dépêche du Midi published an article on the new strikes in France against Macron's pension reform. Caliber.Az presents the translation of the article.

Unions have called for a fourth strike against the draft pension reform on February 11. According to a police source, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are expected to take part, including 90,000-120,000 in Paris. Following strikes on January 19, 30, and February 7, the eight main unions are organising a fourth demonstration against Macron's pension reform. During the previous demonstration on February 7, the interior ministry said some 757,000 French people took part, although the GCT (General Confederation of Labour) said some two million people took part. A new struggle could start today. More than 200 rallies are planned across the country.

Berger and Martinez outraged by Macron

Unions, still opposed to the reforms, are convinced that the strike, organised for the first time on a day off, is likely to attract more French people, as seven out of ten French citizens oppose government reform and support the social movement. At Thursday's EU summit, Macron referred to "the country's blockade". Breaking with the tradition that the executive does not speak abroad about the country's domestic affairs, Macron said he was counting on the "responsibility" of the unions. He said the protest movement should not block "the life of the rest of the country".

The comments infuriated the trade union secretaries-general of the FDLC (French Democratic Labour Confederation) and GCL, Laurent Berger and Philippe Martinez, who responded sharply to the president yesterday, suggesting the government itself should show "responsibility".

"Why are we being urged today not to blockade the country? Sorry, but it's not our fault," the union leaders said, recalling that there was no call for a railway strike this Saturday and that, all previous demonstrations had been peaceful.

"I now call on the government to take responsibility and take into account the workers who are expressing strong discontent against the increase in the retirement age to 64. I am asking parliament to do its job in examining the text. Article 7 will change workers' lives," Berger said yesterday.

 The protest will continue for 78% of French people

The French protest against the pension reform has not abated. Seven out of ten French people still support strikes (including the 19% who take part in them in one way or another). This continued support is very important to the opponents of the reform. The French are convinced that the strike and demonstration movement will last: only 21% believe that it will "quickly stop", while 78% predict that it will last the whole of February (48%) or even longer (30%).

The government can hardly expect the protests to subside. In addition, 66% of the French blame the government and not the unions for the situation.