French Protest

Brady Ellis, Journalist

On January 19th, 2023, French citizens started protesting against the government’s new pension plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. More than 1.27 million people protested and eight key unions took part in the strike, which disrupted schools, public transport, and oil refineries.

BBC said “ A reported 11,000 police were deployed to cover the demonstrations taking place in more than 200 towns and cities. Some skirmishes were reported at the end of the Paris route in Place Vauban and 30 people were arrested. The interior minister praised police for their handling of the protests.”

At least 310 people have been detained for protesting. CNN said, “ In a note Thursday night, the interior ministry, in the context of the reaction to the pension reforms, called on security forces to ‘firmly maintain’ protections for elected officials in France, who, ‘are sometimes the object of threats, insults, or even malicious acts such as damage to property.” According to sources, around 55% of secondary school teachers had walked out, although the government said the figure was just over a quarter. High school pupils staged protests outside some schools and students said they would occupy the Paris Institution of Political Studies or Sciences Po University in Paris in support of the strikers.

 

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64463330
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/17/europe/france-pension-reform-intl