Violent riots in France continue for the second week. According to opinion polls, the majority of citizens are against raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
In Paris, over a thousand young adults protested the pension reform in front of the Pompidou Museum of Modern Art over the weekend.
Young people are worried, because the government’s pension reform will prolong their working careers.
The young protesters are also fed up with the fact that the government does not listen to its citizens.
The French government recently raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. In practice, the reform means that the career of young people will be extended to more than 42 years.
French Prime Minister to the crisis meeting
Prime Minister of France Elisabeth Borne said late Sunday that he would meet with opposition leaders and union representatives next week.
According to the Prime Minister, the government is ready to negotiate with the trade unions on the pension reform.
Borne also said he would no longer use a controversial mechanism that allows the government to push through unpopular reforms without a parliamentary vote.
The terrace season started in Bordeaux despite the protests
In Paris and the cities of Bordeaux, for example, garbage containers were set on fire.
Last week, protesters also set fire to the main entrance of the city hall.
Not all French people march in the streets, but for many, everyday life continues as before.
For example, a video circulating on social media shows how restaurant customers in Bordeaux’s Place de la Victoire enjoy their wine in the glow of a burning garbage can.
Some of the protesters clashed with the police again over the weekend.
The protests, which have continued for the second week, have been violent at times.
In Paris, the police fired
In Paris, police reportedly used tear gas and batons against protesters. of the France 24 channel (you switch to another service) according to Friday, the protests became particularly violent.
of Le Monde magazine by (you switch to another service) police officers of the motorcycle unit have reportedly been guilty of threats and excessive use of force.
Many luxury brand stores in Paris have covered their windows with plywood sheets due to vandalism.
In Bordeaux and Paris, more than 400 people have been arrested for rioting and vandalism. In addition, hundreds of police officers have been injured.
In addition to the protests against the pension reform, there are several strikes going on in Paris.
One of the strikes that has the most significant impact on the cityscape is the garbage truckers’ protests.
During the past two weeks, the streets of many French cities have been filled with piles of garbage that no one cleans up, a French newspaper (you switch to another service) Le Monde reports.
In particular, tourists who came to see Paris in the spring were upset about the garbage, Reuters reported in March.
In addition, about 70 demonstrators on Thursday blocked access (you switch to another service)to Charles De Gaulle Airport, when vehicles were unable to enter the airport entrance.
Many had to walk to the terminal with their suitcases.