In France they are calling for “guns” again – that’s what’s behind it

The protests

When it became clear at 6:49 p.m. on Monday that the overthrow of the government had failed, the French population poured into the streets in thousands. With the failed votes of no confidence, their last hope of staving off the controversial pension reform was gone for now.

The news sparked a riot across the country, with 142 people arrested. Eleven police officers were injured, broadcaster BFMTV reports based on police sources. According to Franceinfo, there were also spontaneous demonstrations in other cities such as Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Amiens, Caen and Toulouse.

About 2,000 police officers were present in Paris alone, BFMTV reported. Some demonstrators are said to have set fire to garbage cans and carried posters with inscriptions such as “We will also use violence”, “To be armed” or “Macron’s resignation”. Politicians from both the right and the left have already called for the resignation of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

The failed voices of distrust

In a final uprising against the reform, French opposition forces attempted to overthrow the government on Monday with two votes of no confidence. Their project was not crowned with success, but just failed: in the first of the two ballots, 278 MPs voted with confidence in the central government.

With the absolute majority of 287 votes, only 9 votes would be missing. In the second no-confidence motion, introduced by the right-wing nationalists, the result was clearer: only 94 MPs voted to resign the government.

The controversial special article

The two no-confidence motions were preceded by an approach criticized as “undemocratic” by opponents of the reform. After weeks of heated debates and strikes, reform got under way last week. The two chambers of parliament should finally vote on the reform on Thursday. While the Senate approved the project, approval in the National Assembly was uncertain until the very end. Since June last year, the government no longer has an absolute majority there.

To avert the imminent defeat in the National Chamber, the government therefore decided to push through the reform through a special article in the constitution without a vote by parliament. On budget issues – such as pension reform – the government can use the special article to avoid blockages. While Senate approval is still required, a project can be brought through the National Assembly without a vote. In total, the government may use this fund once per parliamentary year.

The opposition was still angry about this and therefore submitted the two motions of no confidence. For example, the Liberal MP Charles de Courson complained before the vote:

The action fueled the already angry protests in France.

The program for the next few days

President Emmanuel Macron wants to meet Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and the majority leaders of the parliamentary groups this Tuesday, the Élysée Palace announced on Monday evening.

Despite calls for his resignation, Borne continues to defend the government’s actions:

According to “France Info Radio”, Macron, who has so far remained in the background throughout the discussion, should address the population on Wednesday. His office announced that he would answer questions from journalists live at 1 p.m.

Left-wing and right-wing nationalists are expected to appeal to the Constitutional Council on Tuesday in the dispute over the reform. It must approve the draft law on pension reform and decide on the constitutionality of the law. The opposition now wants to have the government’s actions tested there, which has shortened the debate time for the reform in parliament through an accelerated procedure and has included the reform in a budget text. In addition, the left wants to try to prevent the reform with a referendum. Further strikes and protests against the reform are already planned for Thursday.

On Monday evening, unions called for more mobilization until the reform was withdrawn. An appeal from the CGT union said:

(with material from sda/dpa)