France faces new strikes after pension reform

France this Saturday he faces who knows what day of partial strikes against pension reformapproved on Thursday by decree of the Government Emmanuel Macronin the wake of growing social unrest reflected in the second night of riots in various cities across the country.

Although of lesser importance, large French cities recorded spontaneous protests on Friday evening, which resulted in the least in Paris 60 arrests in the act at plaza de la Concord.

IN lyons, clashes with the police were particularly tense, and protesters tried to storm and set fire to the municipal council headquarters. About thirty people were arrested.

New protests have been called for this Saturday on social networks in dozens of French cities. It is expected that one of the main ones will be Place d’Italiein the south of the city, which will start at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

The discontent of the street, which is organized outside the unions and parties, has moved to the Parliament, where this Monday two motions for a vote of no confidence to topple the executive will be debated, on the brink of a political crisis like no other. outbreak of the “Yellow Vest” rebellion in 2018.

The initiative, however, has little chance of prosperity from conservatives from Republicans (LR) do not officially support it.

Just today, the member of the European Parliament from LR, Agnès Evren, predicted in statements to BFMTV that “only 4 or 5” parliamentarians from her party would support the proposals, far from the minimum 30 from LR that would be necessary for the overthrow executive authorities.

A reform that raises the minimum retirement age in France from 62 to 64 years has kept the unions on the warpath, with some entrenched strikes, such as the one for garbage collection in the middle of Paris, where thousands of tons of waste continue to be strewn on the pavements despite the fact that the French government has imposed a return to I work certain cleaners.

Disruptions in the traffic of high-speed trains (4 out of 5), regional TER (3 out of 5) and Intercities (3 out of 5) are expected this Saturday.

Air traffic is not expected to experience any cancellations or delays due to the strike, although 30% of flights at Paris Orly Airport and 20% at Marseille (South) Airport are expected to be canceled on Monday, March 20.

In the energy sector, at least four major refineries will close – with the possible impact on fuel supplies not yet known.

Likewise, four gas transport terminals are still under fences – which, however, allow the import of liquefied gas – as well as eleven gas tanks from Storengy, a subsidiary of Engie