China news agency, Paris, January 19 (Reporter Yang Li) On the 19th, local time in France, there was a wave of large-scale strikes and demonstrations. Related activities were initiated by major French trade unions to oppose the reform of the retirement system.
On the same day, the reporter saw at Lyon Railway Station, a public transportation hub in the center of Paris, that most of the passenger train services had been cancelled, and the high-speed trains that were not in operation stopped at the station. There are very few passengers on the railway station platform. A number of station staff were on the scene to help provide the latest information on train operation.
The strike on that day seriously affected public transport. In addition to the impact on the French railway passenger service, many subway lines in Paris also stopped operating, and more than 10 subway lines only provided limited services during peak hours. Some school teachers in France also joined the strike. In addition, some refineries in France also went on strike that day. The strike of EDF employees also led to a decline in power generation in Paris.
France’s major trade union organizations launched a large-scale demonstration against the reform of the retirement system throughout France on the 19th. The French Ministry of the Interior said that 1.12 million people participated in the demonstrations in France, including 80,000 in Paris. The French Federation of Trade Unions said that more than 2 million people participated in the demonstrations in France, including 400,000 people in Paris.
On the same day, the reporter saw in the Republic Square in Paris that tens of thousands of people gathered here from all parts of Paris. Many people held homemade placards, and some people were busy distributing leaflets. The main contents of placards and leaflets were basically against the reform of the retirement system and the delay of the legal retirement age. Some demonstrators called for lowering the legal retirement age from the current 62 to 60.
The reporter noted that the people who participated in the demonstrations came from all walks of life, including taxi drivers, entertainers, teachers and doctors. Many students joined the demonstrations, and many of them thought that the future would be completely affected by the reform of the retirement system.
The demonstration in Paris started from the Republic Square at 2 pm. More than two hours later, the procession has not finished half of the planned trip, and there are still a large number of people waiting to leave in the Republic Square, which shows that there are a large number of participants. At about 7 pm, most of the people in the parade arrived at the national square. The demonstrations in Paris were generally peaceful, and a large number of police officers were on close guard at the scene.
French President Macron visited Spain on 19th. When asked about the voices opposing the reform of the retirement system, Macron said that people have the right to express their opinions legally, but he hoped that there would be no violence.
French officials announced the reform plan of the retirement system on the 10th, and planned to delay the legal retirement age from the current 62 to 64. A number of recent polls show that most French people agree to maintain the retirement age of 62 and oppose delaying it. (End)
关于作者