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France faces massive strikes this week over pension reform

French trade unions are planning massive strikes from Tuesday aiming to bring the country "to a standstill".

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

French trade unions are heading for what is expected to be a decisive showdown with President Emmanuel Macron over pension reform, with massive strikes from Tuesday aiming to bring the country "to a standstill", reports The Economic Times.
After five separate days of protests so far this year, this week's stoppages herald a new phase in the battle between the centrist government and opponents of the changes, which includes an overwhelmingly majority of French voters.
"We always said that we would go into a higher gear if necessary," the head of the influential hard-left CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper on Sunday. "It will be the case on Tuesday."

More than 260 demonstrations are expected nation-wide, many in small and medium-sized towns where opposition to the reform is strong, while strikes will affect transport, the energy sector and public services.

Read more of this AFP report published by The Economic Times.