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Protesters prepare a banner reading Pension, not for reform during a demonstration against the French government’s pension reform plans in Nice as part of the national day of strikes and protests in France, January 19, 2023. Photo/
PARIS – About 1.12 million people took part in protests against pension reforms in France on Thursday (19/1/2023). French media reported on this, citing the Interior Ministry.
According to the French Interior Ministry, nearly 1.12 million people joined the protests across France, 80,000 of them in Paris alone.
Earlier in the day, Secretary General of the General Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT) Philippe Martinez, estimated the total number at 2 million demonstrators, with 400,000 demonstrators in Paris.
More than 200 demonstrations took place across France on Thursday amid a nationwide strike against pension reform, initiated by eight leading French trade unions (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Usa, Solidaires, FSU).
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The largest protests were held in Paris, Marseilles, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille and Nantes.
The massive protest started in Republic Square in Paris at 13:00 GMT. The demonstrators included representatives from various industries, supporters of the Yellow Vest movement, as well as black bloc radicals.
The protests turned violent after radicals started throwing rocks, bottles, flares and firecrackers at the police.
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In response, the police used tear gas and began to force the crowd back. Police have arrested 38 people in Paris so far.
On January 10, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne introduced a pension reform bill that should be passed by 2023.
According to the draft law, the retirement age will increase by three months per year starting September 1, 2023.
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