Voice of America
19 Mar 2023, 04:06 GMT+10
PARIS - A spattering of protests were planned in France over the weekend against President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform, as garbage continued to reek in the streets of Paris and beyond amid a strike by refuse collectors.
An eerie calm, returned to Paris Saturday after two nights of thousands-strong protests across the French capital, with one flash point at the elegant Place de la Concorde where angry protesters tossed an effigy of Macron into a bonfire to cheers from the crowd. Police dispersed people with tear gas and water cannons and there were hundreds of arrests.
A woman holds a placard depicting French President Emmanuel Macron sitting on garbage cans that reads, 'king of trash' during a protest in Paris, Friday, March 17, 2023.
Protesters are trying to pressure lawmakers to bring down Macron's government and doom an unpopular retirement age increase he's trying to impose without a vote in the National Assembly.
Further protests were planned Saturday in Paris as well as in the cities of Marseille and Nantes, but they were expected to be smaller than in previous days.
In Paris' 12th district Saturday, trash piled up meters away from a bakery, wafting fumes encouraged by the mild weather and sunshine. Some Parisian residents buying their weekend baguette blamed Macron's administration.
Demonstrators rolls a wooden cable spool to a burning barricade during a protest in Paris, Friday, March 17, 2023.
"The government should change its position and listen to the people because what is happening is extremely serious. And we are seeing a radicalization," said Isabelle Vergriette, 64, a psychologist. "The government is largely responsible for this."
The district's mayor, Emmanuelle Pierre-Marie, was out and about from the crack of dawn voicing concern in her neighborhood about the consequences of the refuse pile-up, which has become a visual and olfactory symbol of the anti-pension action.
Demonstrators gather next to a burning barricade as they stage next to the National Assembly during a protest in Paris, Friday, March 17, 2023.
"Food waste is our priority because it is what brings pests to the surface," said Pierre-Marie. "We are extremely sensitive to the situation. As soon as we have a dumpster truck available, we give priority to the places most concerned, like food markets."
Strikes in numerous sectors, from transport to energy, are planned for Monday. The Civil Aviation authority asked that 30% of flights be canceled at Orly, Paris' second airport, and 20% in Marseille.
Demonstrators gather next to a burning barricade as they stage a protest in Paris, Friday, March 17, 2023.
Laurent Berger, head of the moderate CFDT union, said the retirement reform "must be withdrawn."
"We condemn violence. ... But look at the anger. It's very strong, even among our ranks," he said on RMC radio.
On Friday, one day after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne invoked a special constitutional power to skirt a vote in the chaotic lower chamber, lawmakers on the right and left filed no-confidence motions to be voted on Monday.
Get a daily dose of Europe Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Europe Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that infections by the potentially deadly fungus ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US Supreme Court will hear a trademark dispute over a dog toy shaped like a Jack Daniel's ...
KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan's education ministry has announced that the country's school year has begun, but the United Nations children's agency, ...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: In an effort to ease tensions between Taiwan and China, former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou will visit Beijing ...
NIAMEY, Niger: Four weeks after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger, an American aid worker and a French ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: While chairing a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers in Brussels this week, European Union (EU) foreign ...
LONDON, England: During a Bloomberg conference held in London this week, Luke Ellis, CEO of hedge fund Man Group, said ...
NEW YORK, New York - Wall Street jumped on Friday, although gains were modest after bank shares in Europe came ...
LOS ANGELES, California: Some 30,000 education workers in Los Angeles, backed by teachers, went on a three-day strike, canceling school ...
LONDON, England: Despite rising air fares, a potential global economic recession and risks of gridlock at some airports in Europe ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US Commerce Department has proposed new laws aimed at preventing China and other countries deemed of concern ...
NEW YORK, New York - As concerns over the banking sector eased, U.S. stocks moved moderately higher on Thursday, but ...