Pension reform: King Charles III’s visit to France postponed


The state visit of King Charles III to France, scheduled for Sunday to Wednesday, is “postponed”, “given the announcement of a new national day of action against pension reform” Tuesday March 28, a announced the Élysée on Friday. The decision was “taken by the French and British governments, after a telephone exchange between the President of the Republic and the King this morning, in order to be able to welcome His Majesty King Charles III under conditions which correspond to our relationship of friendship “, writes the French presidency in a press release, promising a rescheduling of the visit “as soon as possible”.

The king’s visit caused great concern

This announcement comes the day after a 9th day of demonstrations throughout France against the flagship reform of the Head of State, marked by a very strong mobilization and an increase in violence in the processions.

For this single day, 441 police officers and gendarmes were injured. No figures are available regarding the demonstrators. On the evening of this mobilization, the inter-union called for a new day of demonstrations and strikes on Tuesday.

Under these conditions, the king’s visit aroused the greatest concern. Its precise program had not been published when Charles III was due to land in Paris on Sunday evening. In particular, he was to speak on Monday in front of senators and deputies and participate in a state dinner at the Palace of Versailles, in the company of Queen Consort Camilla. “The meeting of kings at Versailles dispersed by popular censorship,” quipped France’s rebellious leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Twitter.

Charles III and Camilla look forward to going to France “as soon as dates can be found”

UK Ambassador to France Peter Ricketts expressed his understanding. “It will have been a difficult decision. But understandable. State visits are a time for celebration and now was not the time,” he said.

The postponement of Charles III’s visit to France was made at the request of President Macron, Downing Street announced. For their part, King Charles and Camilla are looking forward to going to France “as soon as dates can be found”, Buckingham Palace reported on Friday after the announcement of the postponement of their visit because of the demonstrations. “Their Majesties look forward to the opportunity to travel to France as soon as dates can be found,” the palace said in a statement. The royal couple were due to travel to France on Sunday for their first state visit.



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