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French ‘day of rage’ as protesters vow to get pension age hike revoked

Thursday, 20 April 2023 7:03 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 20 April 2023 7:03 PM ]

Ramin Mazaheri
Press TV, Paris

In nearly 100 places across France, protesters gathered to say that even though a 2-year hike to the retirement age was formally introduced into law last week, it’s still not over.

As is often the case in France, rail workers are leading anti-government sentiment, with a national “day of rage” rail strike.

Unions are gearing up for a huge protest on May 1st- International Workers Day- as they have vowed to do whatever it takes get the pension age increase revoked.

Even though over 70% of the nation was opposed to President Emmanuel Macron’s latest far-right economic measure, many wonder how a fight to stop the pension rollback can succeed when so many other widely-supported anti-austerity movements have been unsuccessful.

The failed general strike in the winter of 2019, the bloody Yellow Vest repression, the failed labor code roll back of 2016, the failed protests against raising the retirement age- in 2010.

Since the European Union came into full force in 2009, the democratic majority has been ignored in France, but also across all of Europe.

Many political leaders say France is on the cusp of spinning out of control. Protests have been widespread for many years, and even the Yellow Vests failed to persuade Macron to introduce more public opinion into policy-making. May 1st is sure to be see major protests and major police brutality, and then what comes after? A tense nation waits to find out.

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