Protests on the “Place de la Concorde”
Image: AFP
Anger, riots and protests: After the government’s decision on pension reform, thousands of people took to the streets in Paris. Wooden pallets were set on fire – the riot police also arrived.
Nfter the French government’s decision to implement the controversial pension reform without a vote, numerous people in Paris protested. Hundreds flocked to the Place de la Concorde in the center of the French capital on Thursday afternoon. The unions announced the continuation of the protests and strikes that had kept France in suspense for the past few weeks. After the short-term government decision, opposition politicians denied the legitimacy of the reform. There is simply no majority for raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.
To avert defeat, the government pushed through the reform at the last minute on Thursday without final approval from parliament. She decided to implement President Emmanuel Macron’s most important reform project with the help of a special article in the constitution without a vote in the National Assembly. The president’s centre-camp had counted on the support of the conservative Républicains, but were not sure of it in the end.
Left and right-wing nationalists have already announced no-confidence motions. These must be in by Friday afternoon. However, it is considered unlikely that the government will be overthrown. The President of the Républicains, Éric Ciotti, has already stated that his group will not support a motion of no confidence. Whether all MPs stick to it, however, remains open.