Macron’s reforms sparks protests in France

Scores of French nationals including striking rail workers, public sector staff and students are rallying across cities in the country over President Emmanuel Macron’s reforms.

Reports say thousands marched across cities like Paris, Lyon and Marseille chanting and carrying anti-Macron banners on Thursday.

According to a count by crowd consultancy about 15,000 rallied in Paris, while police estimated the number at 11,500.

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However, the hard-left CGT union, the main organiser, put the crowd at 50,000.

“We’re here for public services. We’re ready to continue the whole summer, even into September and October,” Helene Tricre, a 25-year-old ticket inspector working for the SNCF railway, told the media.

Staff at the debt-laden SNCF, a bastion of hard-left trade unionism, are striking for two days out of every five in protest against plans by Macron to remove job-for-life guarantees and pension privileges for new recruits.

The CGT union had called for various groups angered by Macron’s one-year presidency – students, public sector employees, pensioners, rail workers – to come together to resist the reforms of the 40-year-old leader.

 

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