During a large-scale protest against pension reform in France, strikers stormed LVMH’s Paris headquarters with flares, informed BFM TV. The activists remained in the hall for about 10 minutes.
On the morning of April 13, demonstrators gathered near the Gare de Lyon, from where they headed for the offices of LVMH, a manufacturer of luxury goods, “considered a symbol of capitalism”, reports a chain of French television. Moving along rue Montaigne near the Champs Elysées, activists chanted “This street is ours”. Initially, it was assumed that a rally would take place outside the office, but at some point protesters entered the building and filled the lobby.
“We have been mobilizing for three months, the largest mobilization since 1968. We are going to show Macron that it is not up to him to decide, but to the labor camp. If you are looking for money to finance your pensions, take it from the pockets of billionaires, starting with (the boss of LVMH) Bernard Arnault,” Fabien Villedieu, boss of SUD-Rail, told BFMTV.
Lewis Joly/AP
According to the Paris police headquarters, in the capital of France today have been arrested a dozen demonstrators. The demonstration brought together one of the leaders of the “yellow vests” Jérôme Rodriguez, who declared that “the fight must go beyond pensions” because the question “concerns democracy”.
“See Paris and die.” Who and how reacts to protests against pension reform in France
April 13 – 12th demonstration against pension reform in France. Friday, April 14, the Constitutional Council of the Republic endure its decision on the extent to which the reform plan, which includes raising the retirement age, complies with the country’s Basic Law.
Michel Spinler / AP
BFMTV with reference to the authorities’ report informed that on Thursday, a total of 400,000 to 600,000 people are expected to take part in rallies across France – this is far fewer than the demonstrations in March (there were around 1.3 million participants then).
French President Emmanuel Macron rejected calls from union leaders to negotiate with them, but promised he would invite them to discuss reform after the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
Public outcry against the upcoming changes intensified after the government resorted to the ‘nuclear option’ – Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allowed the reform bill to be passed by Parliament on March 16 without a vote. The opposition described this decision as authoritarian. “Days later, the government narrowly survived two votes of no confidence,” Remarks France 24.
“Authoritarian Moment” and “Democratic Collapse”: Media Response to France’s Controversial Pension Reform Law
Mathieu Pattier / AP
Macron insists that the French pension system is in a “moribund state” and that proposed changes, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 (the original plan was to raise the bar to 65 years), are required. He warned that he would continue to take steps to implement the reform, even if his unpopularity with citizens became evident. However, some government experts say the French pension system is in relatively good shape and is highly likely to return to balanced budgets without reform.
Fabien Roussel, secretary of the French Communist Party, said “the best option for all” and “the best way out of the crisis for all” would be a popular referendum on pension reform. “Even if the Constitutional Council says that the law (on the reform) is in line with the constitution, we will say: if it is, it is still bad, and we will continue to fight for it to be withdrawn,” warned the party spokesman. .
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