French block of Rhine traffic north of Basel

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In many cities, unions again called for rallies on Thursday, where authorities expected 400,000 to 600,000 participants. Tens of thousands of people followed the call. Roads, railways and refineries were blocked. Shipping on the Rhine north of Basel was also blocked and the garbage collection service in Paris went on strike again. In Paris, too, demonstrators broke into the headquarters of the French luxury group LVMH and set off fireworks.

The Kembs lock in the French department of Haut-Rhin north of Basel has been blocked since 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday evening. This was confirmed by the Swiss Rhine ports. According to French media reports, it is a protest action by trade union CGT. Before Kembs there were already blockades at other Rhine locks, write “BFM Alsace” and “Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace”. Strikers from the electricity and gas industries are said to be involved in the blockade.

decision of the Constitutional Council

Macron defended his controversial reform against continued criticism on Wednesday night and promised dialogue with unions. The country must continue to make progress and he wants to talk to the social partners about how things are going. Reform is needed, public budgets need to be balanced. On Friday, the Constitutional Council will announce the result of an investigation into the reform project. He could undo the reform in whole or in part or declare it constitutional.

The protests are directed against the gradual increase of the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. With the reform that has now been adopted, the middle government wants to close an imminent gap in the pension fund. The dispute worsened as the government pushed through the text without a vote by the National Assembly. President Emmanuel Macron wants the reform to take effect by the end of the year. (SDA/no)

Source: Blick