Published 23/03/2023 17:32 | Edited 03/24/2023 17:46
This Thursday (23) took place the ninth day of protests in France against the pension reform imposed by President Emmanuel Macron. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 1.089 million people took to the streets to protest. The CGT union federation, the main organizer of the protests, spoke of 3.5 million people spread across the country.
The conflicts happen after the government unilaterally decided to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. For this, Macron used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to impose a law without the approval of Parliament.
According to the European press, the French president does not intend to back down and may even guide new reforms as his government continues to survive.
Everything indicates that Macron will insist on trying to convey a climate of normalcy and act as if everything is fine. But analysts and politicians have been concerned about the direction this weakening of the policy could take.
In an interview given to French channels, the president said he respected the legitimacy of the protests, but criticized the acts of violence.
Charles III’s voyage
The protests in France could alter the agenda of King Charles III of the United Kingdom. It would be the monarch’s first trip abroad, but there is still uncertainty as to whether the date will be kept. Initially, the king’s visit to France is scheduled for Sunday (26).
However, an adviser to President Emmanuel Macron said that the parties are still discussing how the visit will be carried out.
In addition to finding a country in convulsion with garbage scattered in the streets, strikes and other setbacks, the advisers fear that the visit will be the target of trade unionists.
In previous schedules informed by Buckingham Palace, Charles could attend a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe with Macron and speak in the French Senate – situations unthinkable at this time.
*With agency information
Source: vermelho.org.br
