Eyewitness
French anger shows no sign of abating after Macron forces through rise in pension age
President Emmanuel Macron is being repeatedly likened to Louis XVI for ignoring the will of the people, with warnings he faces the same fate as the beheaded king.
Adele Robinson
news correspondent @SkyNewsAdele
Friday 24 March 2023 01:26, UK
French CRS riot police run amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
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Riot police in Paris
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The sirens. The stinging teargas. The smoke from rubbish ablaze. Around each corner, Paris is burning.
A protest involving hundreds of thousands of French citizens started off peacefully in the capital but descended into chaos.
And quickly.
Street fires, which have become a symbol of unrest over pension reform in France, raged on.
Bins have become easy targets – as uncollected rubbish piles up at the roadside, due to ongoing strikes.
A protester clashes with riot police during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
Now, bizarre scenes of diners sipping coffee while fires are lit yards from their tables have become the norm.
Amid the beating of drums, and chanting of demonstrators, we speak to one woman who describes her frustration.
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“France is a democracy, but just now, we feel like it’s not.”
Another protester, a young student, vents her anger:
“They compared us to people attacking the capital building in the US and I think that’s absolutely disgusting.”
Protesters have become incensed by the government pushing through pension reform without a vote in parliament a week ago.
French people see plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 as an assault on their way of life.
Now the word ‘contempt’ is a word associated with the president among those on strike.
It’s written on placards and posters:
“Macron méprisant de la République” – Macron contemptuous of the republic.
Protesters march during a rally in Paris, Thursday, march 23, 2023. Pic: AP
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Pic: AP
At the Place de la République itself, an effigy of the president also burned.
Throughout the march, a route that took hours, pictures also showed President Emmanuel Macron dressed as a king.
The president is being repeatedly likened to Louis XVI, with warnings he faces the same fate as the beheaded monarch.
But it’s not the only uncomfortable royal connection for Mr Macron right now.
Unions are planning strikes and protests that will coincide with King Charles’s state visit to France next week.
Mr Macron has come under increasing criticism over the optics of putting on an extravagant welcome while the streets burn, and unrest continues.
Media reports suggest a lavish Versailles dinner may be scaled back, with logistics under review.
And the red carpet will, quite literally, not be rolled out, as those responsible are refusing to.
Read more:
How does France’s pension age compare to other countries?
Macron is either brave or foolhardy – analysis
Macron’s government survives two motions of no confidence over pension reforms
The conclusion of the protest was supposed to be at Opera, but it was where violence began to intensify.
Protesters hold placards with a portrait of French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration as part of the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government's pension reform, in Paris, France, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tear gas canisters fly through the air, as masked protesters launch projectiles at officers.
Police have also been accused being heavy-handed – not just with demonstrators, but with the press too.
Mr Macron’s economic argument – that the country cannot afford to continue paying for the current pension system – is not accepted by most French people, according to polls.
It’s certainly not accepted by the protesters in Paris.
And it doesn’t seem like it will be.
His insistence that reforms will become law this year is further fanning the flames of an increasingly violent protest movement.
A movement is beginning to emerge, and it shows no signs of abating.
