52% of French people want 'social explosion' protest movement over deteriorating living conditions, Yellow Vest's renew rallies in Paris

Al Mayadeen
Sat, 07 Jan 2023 20:59 UTC

© AFP

Demonstrators gather near the Arc de Triumphe in Paris during protest

France's protest movement, the Yellow Vests (Gilet Jaunes), mobilized on Saturday, to protest rising inflation and the government's plans to push forward pension reform, RIA Novosti reported.

The movement also protested against the government's repeated usage of "Article 49.3" which, in their opinion, cut short democratic, legislative debate in order to adopt the budget for 2023.

The Yellow Vests primarily mobilized in the Paris area from Breteuil Square in the 7th arrondissement in the direction of Bercy Boulevard in the 12th arrondissement.

It is worth noting that the protesters were tightly controlled by police officers keeping watch and containing them from all sides.

One of the protesters said as quoted by RIA Novosti that "the poor in France are in distress: they cannot afford treatment, quality food and pay electricity bills."

Comment: It's not just 'the poor', because even successful businesses are now facing bankruptcy: French gov't offers bakeries to 'delay payment' of electricity bills as energy crisis worsens

Earlier, a poll indicated that 52% of those polled want to see France face a "social explosion" in the coming months, with the formation of a "Yellow Vests-type movement."

In a similar context, Philippe Martinez, head of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), France's leading trade union, has lately warned that France will see a wave of mass strikes in early 2023 if the government does not roll back its pension reform.

Comment: He means another wave of strikes, that began in 2022, and that have already started: French doctors extend strike for another week over pay & working conditions

Earlier in September, around 250,000 protesters took to the streets to announce their opposition to raising the age of retirement and demanding an increase in the minimum wage.

At the time, France's largest trade unions such as CGT, Solidaires, and FSU made a press release announcing their rejection of the reform aim at raising the retirement age.

The unions also announced that they will hit the streets this month if the government does not give in to their request.

Comment: Andalou Agency reports on the findings of the new poll that reveals over half of French people are outraged over Macron's proposed reforms and the state of their nation:

As the details of the French government's controversial new pension reform plan become clearer, a poll found that 52% of those asked said they would like to see France experience a "social explosion" in the coming months with the rise of a "Yellow Vests-type movement."

This is the conclusion of a survey conducted Thursday by the French polling institute Ifop, which also found that 79% of the respondents also consider the scenario of an imminent "social explosion" including a new protest movement, to be realistic.

It is the second highest figure ever recorded by the polling institute since it was founded in 1998.

Only in November 2020 was the figure higher, at 85%. At that time, it was due to the government's strict coronavirus restrictions, including a second lockdown.

According to the latest survey, 48% of French people are "outraged" over the country's economic and social situation.

Some 32% declared that they are "resigned" to the situation, while only 18% said they are "confident."

Credit goes to French citizens for their perspicacity; because not all the peoples of Europe (or elsewhere in the world, for that matter), that are facing a similarly dire situation at home, seem to be able to read the signs, and plan to take action accordingly:

• Ireland's farms to be surveilled by 4 satellites every 5 days to check for 'non-compliance'
• Vegetable shortage threatens UK as supermarkets refuse to pay local farmers increased costs of production
• One of Northern Europe's largest vegetable brands to shut down winter production due to energy costs, forecasts winter shortages