Todd Bishop
French people are dissatisfied with the government’s revision of the pension system, triggering the largest national strike in more than 20 years. About 250,000 people marched in the capital Paris, demanding that President Emmanuel Macron step down.
French official statistics show that 450,000 people marched across the country, while the French General Trade Union (CGT) said that more than 1.4 million people went on strike across the country. In the capital Paris, demonstrators smashed shop windows and burnt cars, and dispatched 6,000 local riot police to cast tear gas on the protesters. Police said the demonstration had arrested at least 89 people, conducted a search of 9,350 people and blocked Republic Square.
The national strike led to the cancellation of Jiucheng high-speed railways and intercity trains, 30% of Air France flights, half of Eurostar train cancellations, most schools were closed, Eiffel Tower and Musée d’Orsay Closed due to lack of manpower. Analysis shows that the current level of social dissatisfaction and political crisis is comparable to the 1995 general strike.
