Mass Demonstrations in France: Crowds Protest Against Retirement Savings Measures
France has been witnessing a wave of nationwide demonstrations, with estimates suggesting around 500,000 people participated in the protests, according to the interior ministry. The latest budget deficit in France stood at 5.8 percent, a figure that has put pressure on the new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu.
The demonstrators, led by various trade unions, have been putting pressure on Lecornu with their protests. The broad trade union alliance has criticized the austerity plans of the previous government, considering them brutal and harmful to workers, retirees, the sick, and people in precarious situations. The proposal to abolish two public holidays was particularly criticized.
Sébastien Lecornu, in response, has stated that the demands of trade union representatives, raised during the protests, would be the focus of the talks he initiated. He also announced he would not implement the previous austerity plan.
During the protests, dozens of demonstrators entered the courtyard of the Ministry of the Economy, and numerous blockades were reported in various parts of the country, including bus depots, traffic axes, and schools. As a result, many businesses and services were affected, including pharmacies, schools, buses, and trains.
In a significant turn of events, 309 people were arrested nationwide during the protests, and 134 people were in police custody following the protests. The CGT union, one of the leading unions, claims more than a million people demonstrated. However, initial expectations were for around 700,000 to 800,000 participants.
It is important to note that France has the highest debt pile in the Eurozone, at around 3.3 trillion euros, and the third-highest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU, at 114 percent. The EU has already opened a deficit procedure against France in July 2024.
As Sébastien Lecornu continues his consultations on a new austerity plan, details about the plan are not yet known. The outcome of these consultations could have significant implications for the French economy and its citizens. The protests serve as a reminder of the public's sensitivity towards potential austerity measures and the need for careful consideration in their implementation.
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