French PM warns of long pensions standoff in face of new protests
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned ruling party lawmakers Tuesday (Dec 10) to brace for a long battle over the government’s pension reforms, as tens of thousands took to the streets to back a transport strike that has caused six days of travel misery.
The industrial action, which has paralysed public transport in Paris and severely disrupted national rail services, is the biggest show of union force since President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017 vowing to cut public spending and make the economy more competitive.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of people took part in new demonstrations around the country over the government’s proposal to merge the country’s 42 separate pension schemes into a single points-based system.
But there were far fewer participants than on the first day of the strike on Dec 5, when more than 800,000 people took to the streets.
On Wednesday, Philippe is to unveil the details of the pensions overhaul in an eagerly awaited speech.
But on Tuesday he downplayed the prospect of a speedy breakthrough in the dispute, saying there would be “no magic announcements” that would bring the protests to a sudden halt.
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