The 8th of mass strikes against the controversial pension reform have begun in France. The Eiffel Tower, the landmark of Paris, was closed to visitors due to the nationwide strike.
As the 8th of the mass strikes against the controversial pension reform in France begins, demonstrations will be held at more than 200 points across the country.
While the draft law on the reform, which envisages raising the retirement age in the country from 62 to 64, was started to be discussed in the Joint Commission consisting of French Senators and deputies at 09:00 local time, the 8th Congress against this reform with the participation of many unions, especially the General Workers’ Union (CGT). The great strike has begun.
According to the news in the French press, employees of different sectors, including energy, transportation, refinery and cleaning, went on strike in many cities, especially the capital, Paris.
Within the scope of the strikes, where protests are expected in cities such as Lille and Marseille, as well as the capital, across the country, according to regional intelligence data, 650 thousand to 850 thousand people are expected to participate in the demonstrations at 230 different points across the country, of which 50 thousand to 80 thousand are in Paris.
TRAIN SERVICES CANCELED
The French General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) had called for airline companies to cancel 20 percent of today’s flights at Paris Orly Airport due to the controllers’ strike.
Eiffel Tower will be closed
On the other hand, it was reported that the Eiffel Tower, one of the symbols of the capital, will be closed today due to the strike. In the statement made on the official Twitter account of the Eiffel Tower, it was announced that the tower will be closed today due to the “national strike”. In the statement, it was noted that the area in front of the tower will be open and accessible until 21:00 local time.
7 THOUSAND TONES OF WASTE HELD
On the other hand, garbage heaps formed in the streets of the capital Paris, due to the strike of the cleaning workers against the reform, which has been going on for days.
Paris Municipality announced yesterday that more than 7 thousand tons of garbage has accumulated on the streets of the capital.
CRITICAL WEEK FOR REFORM
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on January 10 that the pension reform, which was among the election promises of President Emmanuel Macron, would be implemented. There have been multiple strikes and protests across the country since 19 January against the controversial reform.
Stating that in the country where the retirement age is 62, the legal retirement age will be gradually increased by 3 months every year and will be increased to 64 in 2030, starting from September 1, and said that in 2027, it will be necessary to pay a premium for 43 years in order to receive the full pension.
The Senate, which approved the most controversial article of the reform on March 9, “which envisages gradually increasing the retirement age from 62 to 64”, accepted the other articles of the reform on March 12. The reform, discussed today in the Joint Committee, will be put to a vote in the Senate again, after which it will be sent to the National Assembly for final vote.
The ruling wing, which does not have an absolute majority in the parliament, has been trying to persuade deputies of the centre-right Republicans (LR) party to support their reforms in recent days.