At least 122 peopleaccording to estimates by the French Ministry of the Interior, ended up arrested on Saturday in Paris during the day of protests against the controversial pension reform imposed by the government of President Emmanuel Macron that will increase the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 years and will force 43 years to contribute to collect the full board. The reform ignited France after its presentation on Thursday, resorting to Article 49.3 of the Constitution that allows the approval of any norm without a vote as long as a motion of no confidence is not imposed.
The mobilizations were organized throughout France, with special incidence in Paris. There, at 8:00 p.m., the Motorized Brigade for the Repression of Violent Action (BRAV-M) of the Police intervened and used tear gas in the Place d’Italie where it is estimated that there were 4000 people. “We are acting against rioters who are trying to create barricades and set garbage cans on fire,” a police source said. “In the presence of a multitude of thugs, the organizers have asked to dissolve the demonstration,” said the same source, quoted by the newspaper ‘Le Figaro’.
Far from the Champs Elysees
The day in Paris was marked by a controversy Prohibition of demonstrations in the Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysées due to the risk to public order and security, according to the authorities. Instead the protesters stormed the Halles shopping center. Videos posted on social media show protesters entering the mall’s premises despite opposition from security guards.
“Paris debout soulève toi” des centaines de protesters, cheminot, étudiants, travailleurs RATP, lycéens etc dans Chatelet les Halles #ReformsDesRetraites pic.twitter.com/bOjlKTtbrc
— Permanent Revolution (@RevPermanente) March 18, 2023
Within the framework of these protests, the union (General Confederation of Workers (CGT)) reported the closure of the Total Energies refinery in Normandy. “The refineries go on strike one after the other. The movement promises to be greater than that of October 2022. In addition to the oil depots they are on strike! FILL THE TANK!”, the union has published on Twitter.
There were also mobilizations with thousands of attendees in cities such as Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes or Gap. In Marseille, 1,500 attendees have been counted in the General De Gaulle square, according to the Police. In Nantes there were almost 9,000 attendees, according to ‘Ouest France’. In Lyon, it should be noted, another 15 people have been arrested for a total of approximately 169 arrests during this past day of demonstrations throughout the country.
Motion of censure
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From the opposition they continue to criticize the Government, which they even say is “not respecting the constitution” and “governing against the people”, in the words of the deputy of La France Unsubmissive, Antoine Léaument.
For A new appointment is scheduled for this Monday. for the text of the reform to be debated with the leading role once again in Los Republicanos, whose support could lead to the approval of a motion of no confidence against the Macron government. In line with the vote of the motion of no confidence that the opposition will try to launch, the Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, has charged against the opposition in an interview with ‘Le Parisien’ in which he has summoned the Republicans to ” regain your spirits” and “abandon all political stance. For Le Maire it is “a farce” that conservative deputies can vote alongside the extreme left. As of today, at least 4 of the 61 deputies of Los Republicanos in the National Assembly will vote in favor of the motion of no confidence of the LIOT group (Freedom, Independents, Overseas and Territories).