1.12 million demonstrators in the street for the first day of mobilization
The balance of power is launched. Nine days after the presentation of the pension reform project by the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, the trade unions wanted to strike a blow from the first day of mobilization, Thursday, January 19. It’s done, since 1.12 million people demonstrated in France, including 80,000 in Paris, according to the Ministry of the Interior. The CGT has announced “more than two million” demonstrators gathered across the country and 400,000 in the capital.
The Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, has assured Barcelona that the government will continue with its pension reform “with respect, spirit of dialogue, but determination and spirit of responsibility”. But the eight main organizations have already agreed on a new mobilization date, Tuesday, January 31, the day after the first day of examination of the bill in the National Assembly.
With all the trade union leaders gathering behind a single banner, in particular those of the CFDT and the CGT, Laurent Berger and Philippe Martinez, the stakes were crucial for the eight central trade unions, meeting for the first time in more than twelve years. “Mobilization is important”acknowledged, Thursday evening, on RTL, the Minister of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, adding that he “You have to listen to the messages in the processions this afternoon and this morning”.
From Paris to Marseille, from Rennes to Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse and even in the overseas territories, demonstrations have been massive to demand the withdrawal of the increase in the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 years promised by the government.
The story of Thibaud Métais and the correspondents of the Monde can be found in full below: