Pension reform in France: the grandmother of all battles
The battle against the French government's pension reform is not simply just another protest movement. Three crucial issues are at stake here: social, democratic and civilisational, as shown by the exceptional unity among trade unions opposed to the changes, argues Mediapart’s publishing editor Edwy Plenel in this op-ed article. All the more reason, he writes, to put all our energy into supporting this combat.
EverythingEverything, or almost everything, has been said about the French government's pension reforms, in particular by Mediapart's editorial team (see articles in English here, here and here, plus Mediapart's special programme on it here). Much has been said about its injustices, and in particular to women, who underlined that by demonstrating on International Women's Day on March 8th. About its lies, too, its inconsistencies, its irresponsibility, about how out of touch it is, its lack of legitimacy; in summary, its violence. As a result, the government's communications operation did not long withstand the calm but merciless indictment delivered by economist Michael Zemmour (first revealed by Mediapart). Nor did the government's arguments hold up within Parliament itself when confronted with damning discoveries made by socialist MP Jérôme Giedj.
