Yellow Vests & pension reform protesters are far from giving up: Tear gas and flares on Paris streets AGAIN

RT
Sat, 04 Jan 2020 19:54 UTC

© AFP / Francois Guillot

France's capital is heading for a new chaotic weekend, as anti-government Yellow Vests and protesters defying the upcoming pension reform have descended simultaneously upon its streets.

France has endured a full month of protests against the controversial reform - on Saturday, the general strike reached its 31st consecutive day. Moreover, Saturday's action coincided with Act 60 of the anti-government Yellow Vests protests that have been plaguing France for over a year now.

The protesters carried the flags of various trade unions, as well as assorted banners that primarily targeted pension reform. Some of them lit firecrackers on the march. One man, however, was spotted carrying a large plush heart, bearing a very personal message for France's President Emmanuel Macron. The inscription on the giant plushie reads "Macron, I hate you with all my heart."

The infamous 'Macron out' slogan, frequently used by the Yellow Vests, has apparently evolved over the year of turmoil; at least one banner reading "Macron out - and take your reform with you" has been spotted during the protest.

So far, the protest remains relatively peaceful despite large numbers of people attending - only minor clashes with the police and very limited use of tear gas have been reported.

The pension protests, broadly supported by French trade unions, kicked off in early December, taking form of mass rallies, attempts to block infrastructure, strikes and work walkouts. The unrest was triggered by the government's plan to scrap the existing 42 pension schemes and roll out a unified, points-based one instead.

Critics of the reform accuse the government of trying to rip the workers off and stealing their hard-earned benefits, such as the right to early retirement for certain jobs. The authorities, however, maintain the reform is actually designed to simplify the pension system and make it more transparent.

Comment: Even France's artists are involved.They speak for all the professions that take a toll on the body such as firefighters, construction and maintenance workers, manufacturing laborers, and others.

The dancers, on strike alongside public sector workers, oppose the government's plan to do away with more than 40 separate pension schemes and replace them with a single points-based system.

The special retirement plan for the Paris Opera, which allows dancers to bow out at age 42, was introduced in 1698 by king Louis XIV -- making it among the oldest in France.

"Even though we are on strike, we wanted to offer on December 24 a moment of grace," said Alexandre Carniato, a dancer and spokesman for the strikers.

"Despite the cold weather, the girls wanted to rise to the challenge and the musicians to accompany them."

The nearly three-week-old strike has paralysed public transport in France and forced the Paris Opera to cancel many performances, including Tuesday's programme.

"Everyone at the Opera is affected," dancer Eloise Jocqueviel, 23, told AFP. "It's our art which has been put in danger."

The performance of Swan Lake outside Palais Garnier demonstrated "15 years of sacrifice and daily work", said Carniato, 41, who started at the age of eight, practising five hours a day.

"If you want to continue to see beautiful dancers on stage, we can't continue to age 64, it's not possible," he said, referring to the proposed new age for a full pension.

"By 17-18 years old many of us have chronic injuries, tendinitis, fractures, knee problems," added Jocqueviel.

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