Pension reform: 2 million demonstrators in France according to CGT, 740,000 for the interior

The unions wanted to prove that the fight was not over yet. That last week’s no-confidence vote in the Assembly would in no way quell the uprising against pension reform. And that the government, as a new step in this arm wrestling that has been going on for several weeks, should agree to return to the negotiating table to discuss a compromise and agree on a possible “mediation”. And for the moment, mobilization, if it wanes, is still very important in the country, since according to the Ministry of the Interior, 740,000 people demonstrated in France, while the CGT claims that more than 2 million people were mobilized.

The union announced on Tuesday a new day of strike against the pension reform, five days after the explosion, marred by numerous outflows, the first figures from the authorities, as well as from the unions, indicated participation in the recession, as in Bayonne (from 6,500 to 13,000), Montpellier (from 10,000 to 20,000) or Clermont-Ferrand (from 11,000 to 40,000). The apparent low tide was confirmed by CFDT number one Laurent Berger who, from the head of the Parisian procession, reported a drop of about 20%.

Clashes between demonstrators and police broke out in several cities, including Paris, while violence during the 9th day of mobilization on March 23, and then around the Sainte-Soline (Des Sèvres) pool over the weekend, was still in mind. .

In the capital, shortly before the arrival of the procession, a Leclerc store was looted and several fires of garbage cans were lit – according to the CGT, 450,000 demonstrators, that is, almost twice as many as on March 23 (800,000 from the same source). – Nation Square. The main police department reported 22 arrests shortly before 17:00.

In Nantes, a bank branch was set on fire and the administrative court was attacked, while extensive damage was caused in Rennes. Tensions were also noted in Dijon and Toulouse, where police used water cannons. Clashes also took place in Strasbourg, Besançon and Nancy.

In a Parisian procession, the rebellious Jean-Luc Mélenchon had previously called for “comoter,” arguing that France “does not lead to clubs.”

Recall that on the last day of mobilization, March 23, the union announced 3.5 million demonstrators across the country.