People are on the streets of Paris in fresh protests against the hated pension reform, which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64. At the same time, Marine Le Pen has announced a motion of no confidence against French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and the government. The leader of the far-right party National Assembly says the prime minister cannot stay in the job. Marine Le Pen surrounded by journalists after France’s government forced through the unpopular pension reform. Photo: Thomas Padilla / AP Warning of distrust also comes from Jean-Luc Mélenchon. He is the founder of the movement The Indomitable France, on the far left wing. But the central government is unlikely to be overthrown. The conservative Republican party will not support any motion of no confidence in the government. This is stated by the party’s leader Éric Ciotti. Jean-Luc Mélenchon was out in the demonstrations on Thursday. Photo: THOMAS SAMSON / AFP The government is attacked by several parties on the left. – This government is not worthy of our fifth republic, or French democracy. All the way, the parliament has been ridiculed and humiliated, says leader of the French Communist Party Fabien Roussel. The socialists also protest and warn against the fury the reform will trigger in the population. Left-wing opposition politicians protest against the French government’s pension reform in the National Assembly on 16 March. Photo: Thomas Padilla / AP Fear of being voted down It was possible that the French National Assembly would vote no to the reform today, so the government used a legal provision called Article 49.3 to pass the law without a vote. “49.3 Morra di” is on the placard of some demonstrators outside the National Assembly in Paris after it became clear that the government has used Article 49.3 to pass a law without a vote in the National Assembly. Photo: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL / Reuters The law had already been passed in the Senate, where it was supported by senators from the Republicans. But just minutes before it was to be voted on in the House of Commons, the government took the decision to adopt it itself. When Prime Minister Borne entered parliament, the opposition on the left stood up and sang the French national anthem in protest. The atmosphere had to calm down before the meeting could continue. Members of a left-wing coalition in the National Assembly sang the French national anthem in protest. Photo: ALAIN JOCARD / AFP Large strikes Millions of people have taken to the streets in recent weeks to show their dissatisfaction with the pension reform. Tempers are unlikely to calm down now. Because President Macron’s new pension reform gives many people worse conditions than they have today. Among other things, people must work for 43 years to get full pension accrual. Several special provisions for public employees must also be removed. Demonstrators face riot police blocking the Concorde bridge over to the National Assembly in Paris on Thursday. Photo: THOMAS SAMSON / AFP Many believe the reform is particularly unfair to those who start working at a young age, often in low-paid occupations that are physically demanding. Last week, all French trains stopped because railway employees stopped work. So did airport employees and port workers in addition to teachers and other public employees. Macron’s fight Macron and his government believe the reform will make the pension system fairer, and less prone to financial collapse in the future. However, the rule that from the age of 67 you receive a full pension without deductions, regardless of how long you have paid into the system, must be retained. The latter does not, however, soften the critics. They claim that in practice many have to work long after the age of 64 in order to receive a full pension. Demonstrators on Wednesday portrayed President Macron as a devil. Photo: ALAIN JOCARD / AFP Garbage is floating in Paris In Paris, the pavements are filled with large mountains of rubbish. The garbage workers are on strike and have no intention of giving up. Leftover food in uncollected rubbish means that mice and rats have happy days. Photo: Thomas Padilla / AP According to the city authorities in Paris, 6,600 tonnes of rubbish are now lying uncollected on the pavements. It’s definitely starting to smell. And the estimated 6 million rats and their mouse colleagues in the world’s most visited city do not have to go to bed hungry.
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Macron forces through pension reform – Le Pen warns of distrust – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
