1 of 3 New general strike against pension reform planned for Tuesday (March 28) — Photo: REMON HAAZEN/ZUMA PRESS WIRE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK via BBC New general strike against pension reform planned for Tuesday (March 28) — Photo: REMON HAAZEN/ZUMA PRESS WIRE/ REX/SHUTTERSTOCK via BBC
Images of litterstrewn streets in Paris have become a common sight in recent weeks. Local residents report that the situation is attracting rats, raising fears of a public health problem.
The mountains of rubbish on the streets of the French capital have been piling up since street sweepers went on strike against changes to pension regulations in early March.
The national strike spans several other categories and has already reached airports, schools and oil refineries in France. Workers protest against Emmanuel Macron’s government’s support for raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
For public cleaners, the social security reform will raise the minimum retirement age from 57 to 59. (See below for more details on changes to retirement rules)
In some of these acts, which show popular outrage at the government’s plan, demonstrators set fire to piles of rubbish that had accumulated over the previous few days.
2 of 3 Garbage piles up on the streets of the French capital since street sweepers went on strike against new retirement rules — Photo: STEFANO RELLANDINI/GETTY IMAGES via BBC Garbage piles up on the streets of the French capital since street sweepers went on strike against new retirement rules — Photo: STEFANO RELLANDINI/ GETTY IMAGES via BBC
The local press points out that the situation of waste collection is different in the different districts of Paris, since in some areas the collection is carried out by private companies.
According to the French press, protests have become more violent since the government used a special device to pass a law without going through the National Assembly.
Widespread strikes on Thursday (March 23) led to flight cancellations and traffic disruptions on roads and trains. According to the Interior Ministry, more than a million people took to the streets across the country that day.
Around 120,000 protested in Paris. And there were clashes between police and masked people who smashed shop windows, destroyed street furniture and attacked a McDonald’s restaurant in the French capital.
A general shutdown is now scheduled for Tuesday (March 28).
3 in 3 protests have become more violent since the government used a device to pass legislation without going through the National Assembly — PHOTO: SAMUEL BOIVIN/NURPHOTO/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK via BBC bill without going through the National Assembly — Photo : SAMUEL BOIVIN/NURPHOTO/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK via BBC
Visit of King Charles III. delay
In this context, the visit of King Charles III. moved to France. The journey to Paris and Bordeaux should begin on Sunday (March 26).
Buckingham Palace said the decision to postpone the threeday visit of Charles and Camilla, the Queen consort, was due to “the situation in France”.
“Their Majesties look forward to the opportunity to visit France once the dates are found,” the statement said.
President Macron said he called the king and “common sense and friendship have led us to propose a postponement.” The French president said he is proposing the trip to be postponed until early summer “when things calm down again.” “.
Makron clock
Macron, a target of France fighting changes to retirement rules, has been criticized after taking his watch off his wrist during an interview on the matter.
While his staffers said the watch was taken away because it made noise on the table, critics say the watch is a luxury item symbolizing the president’s lack of contact with the public. His political opponents argue that he is a president who supports the rich.
There have been erroneous claims that the watch is worth up to €80,000 (R$450,000). The Élysée Palace told French media that the President was wearing a Bell & Ross model BR V192 personalized with a coat of arms.
Prices for this watch online without personalization range from 1,660 to 3,300 euros (R$ 9,400 and 18,600).
Pension reform in France: what is changing
The main objective of the new pension law is to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030. The increase will be in increments of three months per year starting in September 2023.
The retirement age in France was last changed in 2010, from 60 before that.
The minimum retirement age for the public pension system in France is lower than in other European countries such as Italy (67), the UK (66) and Spain (65).
The French reform also provides for the obligation to contribute for 43 years instead of 42 years in order to receive the benefit for the year 2027.
In addition, the new law removes retirement privileges for some public sector workers, such as those on the Paris Metro.
Opposition to the new law grew even stronger after the government forced its approval on March 16, bypassing the National Assembly the lower house of parliament where it does not have an absolute majority.
Macron says pension reform is an “unpopular but necessary” way to secure the future of the country’s pension system.
According to the president, the measure is vital to avoid the collapse of France’s generous pension system and to ensure younger citizens don’t shoulder the burden of funding older generations.
But opponents argue the measure will disproportionately hit workers, who are more likely to start work at a younger age and have more physically demanding jobs than managers and the selfemployed.