Last-ditch protests in France over Macron's pension reform
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Thursday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms, in a final day of demonstrations before a crucial court decision on the legislation.
As on previous protest days, there were scuffles between police and protesters across the country, while demonstrators also stormed the headquarters of French luxury goods firm LVMH in Paris.
By 6pm, 36 arrests had been made in Paris, and the there had been scuffles between police and black-clad youths in Place de la Bastille and near Hotel de Ville.
Les heurts continuent près de l'hôtel de ville. #greve13avril pic.twitter.com/T6s5TWFMPW
— Samuel Vivant (@SamVivant) April 13, 2023
All eyes on Friday will turn to France's Constitutional Council, the country's highest administrative authority, which will announce its final say on the pensions legislation in the final hurdle before Macron can sign it into law.
READ ALSO What is the Constitutional Court and what will it decide on Friday?
Listen to the team from The Local talk about the latest on pension reform in the Talking France podcast - download HERE or listen on the link below
Police expect around 400,000 to 600,000 people to take part nationwide on Thursday. That would be fewer than half the nearly 1.3 million who demonstrated in March at the height of the protests against the reforms, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
"Now's not the time to give up, because that's what Macron is expecting", said Johan Chivert, a student in the Creuse region in central France.
"We have to keep going and show the people are against this reform."
Security forces were on alert, with around 1,500 anarchist and radical protesters expected in Paris, while regional towns such as Nantes and Rennes are again seen as being at risk of clashes.
"The decision from the constitutional court on Friday will bring an end to the democratic and constitutional procedures," Macron told reporters on a trip to the Netherlands on Wednesday, adding that public debate "will continue, for sure"
If the court issues a green light -- as ministers are privately confident it will -- Macron hopes to sign the changes into law immediately, clearing the way for them to enter into force before the end of 2023.
OPINION The Constitutional Court could prolong pensions battle for another 15 months
Having repeatedly snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks, the 45-year-old leader said he would invite labour representatives for discussions once the court decision was published.
If the law is approved, it remains to be seen whether unions will call more strikes, with momentum clearly waning and employees reluctant to sacrifice salaries for what seems like a losing battle.
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As on previous protest days, there were scuffles between police and protesters across the country, while demonstrators also stormed the headquarters of French luxury goods firm LVMH in Paris.
By 6pm, 36 arrests had been made in Paris, and the there had been scuffles between police and black-clad youths in Place de la Bastille and near Hotel de Ville.
Les heurts continuent près de l'hôtel de ville. #greve13avril pic.twitter.com/T6s5TWFMPW
— Samuel Vivant (@SamVivant) April 13, 2023
All eyes on Friday will turn to France's Constitutional Council, the country's highest administrative authority, which will announce its final say on the pensions legislation in the final hurdle before Macron can sign it into law.
READ ALSO What is the Constitutional Court and what will it decide on Friday?
Listen to the team from The Local talk about the latest on pension reform in the Talking France podcast - download HERE or listen on the link below
Police expect around 400,000 to 600,000 people to take part nationwide on Thursday. That would be fewer than half the nearly 1.3 million who demonstrated in March at the height of the protests against the reforms, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
"Now's not the time to give up, because that's what Macron is expecting", said Johan Chivert, a student in the Creuse region in central France.
"We have to keep going and show the people are against this reform."
Security forces were on alert, with around 1,500 anarchist and radical protesters expected in Paris, while regional towns such as Nantes and Rennes are again seen as being at risk of clashes.
"The decision from the constitutional court on Friday will bring an end to the democratic and constitutional procedures," Macron told reporters on a trip to the Netherlands on Wednesday, adding that public debate "will continue, for sure"
If the court issues a green light -- as ministers are privately confident it will -- Macron hopes to sign the changes into law immediately, clearing the way for them to enter into force before the end of 2023.
OPINION The Constitutional Court could prolong pensions battle for another 15 months
Having repeatedly snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks, the 45-year-old leader said he would invite labour representatives for discussions once the court decision was published.
If the law is approved, it remains to be seen whether unions will call more strikes, with momentum clearly waning and employees reluctant to sacrifice salaries for what seems like a losing battle.
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