Thousands take to the streets over the government’s plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64
Protesters participate in a demonstration in Reims, northeastern France, against French President’s pension reform, on March 7, 2023 © François NASCIMBENI / AFP
Nationwide strikes and rallies against pension reform have caused major traffic disruptions and paralyzed oil refineries and universities in France, after trade unions called for the country to be brought “to a halt.”
As the latest wave of protests against the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62 entered their sixth day, trade unions announced that “more than two million people” would take part in rallies on Tuesday. For comparison, on January 31, the biggest day of demonstrations so far, some 1.27 million took part, according to official figures.
Manifestation gigantesque à Marseille contre la réforme des retraites #grevedu7mars#GreveGenerale#greve7mars#Blocage7mars#BlocageDeLaFrancepic.twitter.com/8x8gewORhC
— Anonyme Citoyen (@AnonymeCitoyen) March 7, 2023
Marches started in the early morning across the country, with crowds blocking major higher education establishments including Rennes II University and Lyon II University, according to footage on social media and local media reports.
ENS, Sciences Po et Lyon 2 bloqués 🫡Pour nos parents, pour notre avenir, pour toutes celles et ceux que le travail abîme : la jeunesse ne se laissera pas faire.Rendez-vous à 11h à la Manufacture des Tabacs pour la manif 🥁#greve7mars#GreveGeneralepic.twitter.com/apjpxPD7pY
— Jeunes insoumis•es Lyon 🐢 (@JeuneInsoumis69) March 7, 2023
Protesters erected barricades in front of a bus depot in La Roche-sur-Yon, a city in western France. Students also blocked a bus depot at Saint-Denis Pleyel, near Paris, before being pushed back by security forces.
At least 100 people blocked the RN 24 highway connecting Rennes and Lorient in western France, according to student organization Le Poing Leve (The Raised Fist). The group claimed the police used tear gas to disperse the gatherings.
🔴Blocus en cours cette nuit de la route de Lorient à #rennes par une centaine de manifestants. Des routiers devraient rejoindre le mouvement. Barricades en feu. (C:Justin Picaud).#greve7mars#ReformeDesRetraitespic.twitter.com/CbLIRR1TZB
— Actu Rennes (@Rennes24) March 7, 2023
The trade union organization CGT-Chimie said fuel shipments had been blocked at the exits of “all refineries.” The management of oil major TotalEnergies confirmed to AFP that it had been affected, but said there was “no shortage of fuel” at its stations.
READ MORE: Fires and clashes break out at French protest (VIDEOS)
Trade unions have also warned of strikes on public transport. On Monday SNCF, France’s national state-owned railway operator, and RATP, the transport operator in Paris, confirmed that the movement of trains in France would be “very severely disrupted,” while metro operations would also be disrupted.
Meanwhile the French General Directorate of Civil Aviation has requested that airlines reduce scheduled flights by 20% and 30% at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris, respectively.
Unrest against pension reform has been escalating for several weeks now. While French President Emmanuel Macron has described the initiative as “essential” due to projected deficits in the pension system over the next 25 years, it has proved deeply unpopular among the public, with almost 60% opposing the reform, according to an Elabe poll.
