French cabinet in Sunday crisis meeting ahead of 5 December strike
The French cabinet has met in a Sunday crisis session convened by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to discuss tactics in the face of Thursday’s nationwide strikes against proposals to reform retirement and pension legislation.
With a series of strikes planned in key sectors like transport and teaching, the government has already held a number of meetings to thrash out a common strategy to defend reforms – described as “essential” by President Emmanuel Macron.
On Friday, several ministers met to put in place arrangements to ensure the continued functioning of the nation, should the strike prove to be well-supported and long-term.
Disruption on Thursday is expected to be widespread, with train and bus drivers, , air traffic controllers, electricity supply workers, truck drivers, oil refineries, teachers, students, police officers, lawyers, judges and street-cleaners all threatening to stay out of work for an indefinite period.
A similar strike in the winter of 1995, also against pension reform, forced the Alan Juppé government to reverse plans to change the system.
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