Taxis secured a meeting on Saturday at the Ministry of Transport with the presence of the Prime Minister after a fourth day of mobilization on Thursday, May 22. During this period, they demonstrated against a new agreement governing the transport of patients and the competition from VTCs (Véhicules de Tourisme avec Chauffeur).
François Bayrou announced that he will “open” this meeting with taxi representatives, according to his entourage on Thursday evening. It will be an opportunity to “exchange” views with the profession, which has been mobilized since Monday.
“I think they found the determination of taxis”, said Rachid Boudjema, the president of the National Union of Taxis Together on Franceinfo.
On Thursday, 1,700 taxis mobilized across France, with 960 in Paris , as reported by the prefecture. In Pau, François Bayrou’s city, hundreds of taxis rallied, with estimates varying widely between taxi representatives and police.
“To Reassure”
The Taxis Intersyndicale initiated a massive mobilization on Monday to protest against a new pricing structure for health insurance regarding the transport of patients by approved taxi drivers. This pricing model, approved on May 16, will take effect on October 1.
The objective is to control the growth of health transport expenditure, which hit €6.74 billion in 2024. Of this amount, €3.07 billion pertains to approved taxis—a staggering increase of 45% since 2019. These trips to hospitals and medical offices constitute a substantial portion of the turnover for many drivers, particularly in smaller towns.
While some stakeholders voice their concerns, Thomas Fatôme, the director general of health insurance , assured in an interview with Parisian that “the vast majority of taxis will benefit from this new model, as it aims to transport more patients .” He emphasized the importance of communication, saying, “Essential before its implementation, we need to clarify this new agreement in detail and alleviate misunderstandings.”
In Pau, taxi drivers recently met with Olivier Faure , first secretary of the Socialist Party , during his visit to promote his latest book. “I hope this convention can be paused until a thorough discussion occurs,” he commented on BFM-TV after the meeting.
In the Bouches-du-Rhône , over 300 taxis mobilized , blocking a key artery in Marseille, joined by drivers from Alpes-Maritimes , Var , and Hautes-Alpes .
In Paris, 650 taxis from across France convened to block Boulevard Raspail near the Ministry of Transport. A filtering blockade was also established at the entrance of Charles-de-Gaulle Airport , with numerous taxis operating in a snail formation . Others slowed traffic approaches near Disneyland Paris .
“No More Choices”
On Thursday, taxi drivers in Marseille expressed their readiness to prolong the movement despite anticipated losses, estimating their revenue loss between €1,000 and €2,600 weekly. “We have no choice. We are united. I will stand firm until the end,” declared Thibault Lafontaine, vice-president of the Union of Taxis of 83 (Var) . He elaborated, “There are poignant stories from people we transport, revealing they have to travel over 150 kilometers to reach medical appointments that should have been much closer.”
Marseille taxis have planned to distribute leaflets outside hospitals and targets for blockade include stations and major boulevards in Paris. Moreover, tensions have increased with law enforcement, and taxi drivers are voicing their discontent against VTC competitors like Uber . In response, the Ministry of Transport has suggested enhanced regulation for VTC services, which was met with calls for calm from unions representing these drivers.
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