The tenth day of mobilization against the pension reform takes place on Tuesday March 28 under close police surveillance. An “unprecedented” device has been deployed, while the executive is trying to clear the ground.
The prefect of police of Paris, Laurent Nuñez, announced the color. He says he expects a very difficult demonstration to manage and the authorities have put in place a police force ” unpublished “. 13,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed, including 5,500 in Paris, said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
At a press conference, he called ” in this period of violence (…) solemnly everyone in peace » and evoked the possible presence in Paris on Tuesday of « more than 1,000 radical elements, some of whom came from abroad, and others (who) were present in Sainte-Soline this weekend “.
The violence of the clashes discourages some from demonstrating
Mr. Darmanin added that these people “ from the ultra-left and the extreme left “could also” carry out actions in Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Dijon and Bordeaux “, cities where the demonstrations were enamelled last Thursday lots of violence.
“Excessive use of force”
The previous days of mobilization were accompanied byviolent incidents, like that of Thursday which identified 457 arrests and 441 police officers and gendarmes injured throughout France. A judicial inquiry was also opened after threats and intimidation made by police officers against young demonstrators and the Council of Europe denounced with a excessive use of force “.
Adama, delivery man, will demonstrate and use his constitutional right
For its part, the executive tries to regain control and proclaims its desire to ” appeasement even if he remains inflexible. On Sunday, the Prime Minister said she was listening, Elisabeth Borne on Monday opened a vast sequence of consultations spread over three weeks, with parliamentarians, political parties, representatives of local elected officials and social partners if they wish.
►Also read: Pension reform in France: Macron remains inflexible but does not close the door to dialogue
President Macron received on Monday at the Elysée the leaders of the majority and the tenors of the government. The Head of State is trying to clear the land without giving anything up to the unions. ” We must continue to reach out to the trade union forces. That’s the message hammered home, according to one luncheon attendee.
The door is open, but not under any condition
The President of the Republic wants to show the trade unions that his door is open. But not under any condition. Agree to talk about working conditions, hardship, employment of seniors or professional retraining. But there is no question of mentioning the postponement of the legal age.
President @EmmanuelMacron asked me to build a government program and a new legislative program.
Parliamentarians, local elected officials, party leaders, social partners: I will consult in the coming weeks all those who want to act for the country ↓— Elisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) March 27, 2023
The leader of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, repeated it again: he will not accept ” outstretched hand by Élisabeth Borne to the unions, that if the government takes a break, in ” putting aside for the moment its reform “.
The President of the Republic took the opportunity to condemn the violence very firmly: “ It is the institutions that are targeted, they have nothing to do with the pension reform “.
A look finally addressed to the Prime Minister who has a mission in the next three weeks: “ widen the majority “. Elisabeth Borne opened new consultations on Monday with the political world, and she hopes, trade union. Three weeks to renew the link and hope to find new allies, under pressure from the street.
► Also to listen: France: what future for protest?