Riots aren’t uncommon in the world; in fact, we hear about various riots and protests taking place somewhere every day. However, soon after the pandemic the world we knew wasn’t the same anymore. Currently, people are tired and fed up. They are desperate for a change.
The same situation is taking place in France. Riots and protests have brought French government to its knees. Several cities in France are facing widespread protests. The crisis emerged in France after President of France, Emmanuel Macron decided to bypass parliament and raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by using special constitutional powers, saying that the bill it is important to save France’s pension system going bankrupt.
As the retirement age was raised, many thousands of people from different cities came out on the streets to protest against the bill imposed by President Emmanuel Macron. Clashes even took place in the French Parliament after the French government narrowly survived by the two votes in No Confidence.
The Pension reform bill will place high amount of burden on low-income earners. Polls show that two-thirds of French people oppose the bill. Various strikes like Garbage, transport and Airport strikes have emerged as union as called for more weekend protests. Because of the Stikes, nearly 10,000 tons of uncollected garbage is piling up in the streets of Paris.
French oil refineries, schools, and transportation systems were all severely disrupted on Thursday as a result of a nationwide strike called by workers in opposition to an increase in the retirement age that was forced through parliament without a vote.
Only two of Paris’s fourteen metro lines were running on a regular schedule. In the city and its environs, RER train services were drastically cut back, and just half of the high-speed TGV trains were operating. 30% of flights at Paris Orly airport were impacted by the nationwide strike, which also had an impact on ground transportation.
Due to ongoing protests, King Charles lll has postponed his visit to France. The visit of Charles III, originally set from March 26–28, has been postponed, according to a statement from the French Presidency. “Given the announcement yesterday of another National Day of Protests against pension reform on Tuesday, March 28, the visit of Charles III has been postponed,” the statement read.
Charles was scheduled to arrive on Sunday evening with the Queen Consort Camilla, spend a day in Paris on Monday, and then fly to Bordeaux in the southwest on Tuesday.
More than 450 protesters have been arrested and 441 police officers have been injured in Anti-Pension reform protests. Even after the protests, President Emmanuel Marcon has refused to take back the reform.
