LARGEST PROTEST OF 3,5 M ANGRY PEOPLE IN FRANCE AGAINST THE PENSION REFORM

USPA NEWS - The general strike of March 7, 2023, so announced by the inter-union of (the most powerful French unions FO, CGT, CFDT, etc.) got off to a good start today with a general blockage in France (transportation, Schools, Policemen, energy providers, etc). There were 3.5 million protesters who demonstrated according to the organizers and only 1.28 million according to the Ministry of the Interior. Reinforced by the favor of public opinion (91% of people in activity, employees approve of this demonstration and the blocking, 66% of French women approve of the blocking), already announces a day of demonstration will be held next week on March 15. "This Saturday, we are therefore calling for a popular tidal wave against retirement at 64," said the far left party LFI, the union. The trade unionists consider that the bet is won with 1.28 M people in the street, today for the 6th demonstration since January 19, 2023 according to the Ministry of the Interior or 3.5 M according to the CGT Union. The first blocking day of March 7 is already rescheduled for tomorrow March 8, International Women's Day.

The general strike of March 7, 2023, so announced by the inter-union of (the most powerful French unions FO, CGT, CFDT, etc.) got off to a good start today with a general blockage in France (transportation, Schools, Policemen, energy providers, etc). There were 3.5 million protesters who demonstrated according to the organizers and only 1.28 million according to the Ministry of the Interior. Reinforced by the favor of public opinion (91% of people in activity, employees approve of this demonstration and the blocking, 66% of French women approve of the blocking), already announces a day of demonstration will be held next week on March 15. "This Saturday, we are therefore calling for a popular tidal wave against retirement at 64," said the far left party LFI, the union. The trade unionists consider that the bet is won with 1.28 M people in the street, today for the 6th demonstration since January 19, 2023 according to the Ministry of the Interior or 3.5 M according to the CGT Union. The first blocking day of March 7 is already rescheduled for tomorrow March 8, International Women's Day.

According to the statements of trade unionists and polls, the people who demonstrate or support this general strike movement have crystallized several frustrations from the drop in purchasing power, inflation (which beat 15% this month in France) which is add to that of "the reform of too much", trade unionist of CGT 94 Benjamin BenAmar. According to FO, (Force Ouvriere Union) "Even with 35% the steel cannot get out. The strikers are organizing to block production", assures Frederic Souillot, the general secretary. Taking the example of Arcelor Mittal, management announced 35% of strikers when the CGT announced 62%. He adds that "There was between 25% and 30% more than January 31 which had gathered 2.8 million people". And according to F.O Union, "There was between 25% and 30% more than January 31 which had gathered 2.8 million people". "The mobilization in the provinces is massive and determined. The reform is a catalyst with inflation, loss of purchasing power", declared Frederic Souillot

GENERAL SEC OF CGT PHILIPPE MARTINEZ WANTS THE UNIONS TO BE RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT MACRON "We think that the time is serious enough to challenge the President after the six (6) major demonstrations, mobilizing several million people in the streets and that we need the interest of the President of the Republic than that of elsewhere . declared Phillippe Martinez on the TV channel BFM this evening. The Elysee ensures that "the door of the executive has always remained open". Thus, the Secretary General of the CGT Philippe Martinez explained to send a letter to the President of the Republic to be received because the Prime Minister did not want to dialogue with the trade unionists. “We want to tell them that the situation is very serious in France. (Source BFM tv) . The extreme left party, LFI (La France insoumise united with other parties of the left, socialize, communists, ecologists, in the National Assembly under the name of NUPES) also urged the President of the Republic to "break his silence ". "The country must not endure its stubbornness for a long time", thus completed.

TRADE UNIONISTS CONFIDENT IN THEIR BLOCKING AGAINST A FEVERY GOVERNMENT
The unions have indeed promised to "put France on hold from March 7, 2023, if the pension reform is not withdrawn by the government" while the LFI party announced "Put France on your knees".
On the government side, a feverishness has set in with very exaggerated declarations, such as that of Olivier Veran, the government's spokesperson who declared during the press briefing, after the Council of Ministers on March 1, ""Putting France stopping, it would increase an already salty bill", and it is taking the risk of an ecological, agricultural, humanitarian disaster in a few months". Many opponents and Internet users have mocked these exaggerated judges porpose pronounced by the spokesman of the government The Minister of Public Accounts meanwhile declared that "it is this reform or bankruptcy".

The President of the Republic is returning from a four-day trip to Central Africa. He traveled to Gabon, Angola, Congo Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between March 1 and 4 to open a "new page" in relations with countries on the continent. Our agency did not cover this official trip of the Head of State to Africa.

The President of the Republic, for his part, is preparing a national tribute on March 8 to the great committed lawyer Gisele Halimi, feminist and great icon for the defense of women and against torture (Vietnam, Afghanistan) as well as the attenuation of ;a Franco-British summit on March 10 .... in this period of turmoil and locking of the country by the French unions.

Meanwhile the text of the pension reform was voted by the senate (majority on the right) with the adoption of a CDI contract for seniors > 60 years old, and the end of the five special regimes cad (electricity and gas industries, RATP, Banque de France, clerks and employees of notaries, members of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council).
The President of the Republic, for his part, is preparing a national tribute on March 8 to the great committed lawyer Gisele Halimi, feminist and great icon for the defense of women and against torture (Vietnam, Afghanistan) as well as the attenuation of ;a Franco-British summit on March 10 .... in this period of turmoil and locking of the country by the French unions.

Meanwhile the text of the pension reform was voted by the senate (majority on the right) with the adoption of a CDI contract for seniors > 60 years old, and the end of the five special regimes cad (electricity and gas industries, RATP, Banque de France, clerks and employees of notaries, members of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council). The text of the law is distributed from the Senate to the National Assembly, before perhaps forming a parliamentary committee comprising of 7 deputies and 7 senators to decide, or not, next week.

HOT DEBATE BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT IN THE SENATE ON CAPITALIZATION OF RETIREMENT The LR Group of senators also proposed two amendments to promote the capitalization of retirees. The Left Senators have denounced the preacrusation of the middle classes and workers who can no longer pay for their electricity and eat in the Resto du Coeur (Foundation of Coluche that feeds the poor). The debate hardens, and it is soon two visions of society that confront each other, step by step. “You think that financial investment will be more profitable than salary compensation. You are betting on a society where financialization continues to empty us of our substance and to empty the world of work of its remuneration, ”denounces Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, Senator GRS (Republican and Socialist Left) from Paris. “Your desire is to get your hands on the 346 billion in social security contributions that escape capital every year to put them back in the hands of the market! You understood, for us, it's no! “, adds Fabien Gay. Source: The LCP Parliamentary TV Broadcast.