French President Macron chased out of Paris theater by protesters
A group of anti-government protesters tried to enter a northern Paris theater late Friday while French President Emmanuel Macron was inside.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Bouffes du Nord theater after social media accounts indicated Macron was at the venue. Video showed protesters chanting and some entering a door as surprised police tried to hold them back. A black car reportedly carrying Macron then sped away under a hail of jeers.
France has witnessed nationwide strikes and protests that began Dec. 5 in protest against the government's planned overhaul of the pension system. Macron has held steadfast in his opinion that the 42 various plans currently in place need be consolidated into one.
Payouts in the new plan would be calculated according to the sum of the salaries earned from across a worker's career, rather than according to their last five years. The result, unions say, would be to significantly reduce payouts to workers.
Macron's plan would also phase out early retirement advantages of certain sectors, primarily the civil service, by adjusting various "hardship" criteria.
Dozens of protesters also blocked the entrance to the Louvre museum, forcing the famous Paris landmark to close Friday.
The protesters at the Louvre, which included some museum employees, emerged as several hard-left trade unions appealed to the public to engage in actions to oppose a move they said would "lower everyone's pensions."
The museum's Leonardo da Vinci exhibit marking the 500th anniversary of the Italian master's death was included in the closure. Some protesters chanted, "Mona Lisa is on strike, Leonardo is on strike."
It is the first time since Dec. 5 that the Louvre and its Leonardo exhibit were fully shut down. Around 30,000 people visit the museum every day. Some videos on social media showed angry visitors booing at museum protesters to express their disappointment.
Some of those shut out of the Louvre were upset, while a few interviewed expressed solidarity with the strikers.
"I think it's fine if they want to protest but they shouldn't block the plans of people who have flown over here to see an exhibition of Leonardo," said Ben Garrett of Dallas, Texas. Gerhard Jehle of Germany, who had bought his ticket in advance, shared this view, saying he was "badly informed about the extent of the strike."
"I don't understand how this happens," Jehle said. "Public transport doesn't function. The unions have to be controlled with an iron hand."
Argentinian Marcelo Campano, who also had a ticket, said that he understood the workers' bid to confront a government they perceive as neoliberal: "So we'll show our solidarity and come back another day."
The action at the Louvre was one of several signs of mounting tensions among strikers. Several dozen people on Friday invaded the headquarters of the CFDT union, which is favorable to a point-system Macron wants to put in place to determine retirement benefits.
The crowd were seen on video singing and mocking the union's leader. Macron condemned the action as violent, unacceptable and "shameful for our democracy."
In a more playful bid for attention, dozens of lawyers opposing the president's proposed pension reforms put on a dance show in Versailles wearing their black robes Unions called for a seventh round of street marches next Friday, when the contested pension plan is to be presented to the Cabinet.
The weeks of strikes and protests have hobbled public transportation and disrupted schools, hospitals, courthouses and even opera houses and the Eiffel tower.
Major French retailers Fnac Darty and Casino said that business in France has been badly affected by the strikes, especially during the holiday season. Fnac Darty said the strikes cost it around 70 million euros ($78 million) in lost revenue, while Casino cut its forecast for earnings growth in France, where it does more than half its business, to 5% in 2019, from a previous 10%. The company estimates that the strikes in December cost it about 80 million euros in lost revenue. Shares in both companies were down by more than 5%.
The prime ministertarget="_blank"'>While the number of striking workers has diminished since the movement, the country's trains and the Paris subway were still disrupted Friday.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Bouffes du Nord theater after social media accounts indicated Macron was at the venue. Video showed protesters chanting and some entering a door as surprised police tried to hold them back. A black car reportedly carrying Macron then sped away under a hail of jeers.
France has witnessed nationwide strikes and protests that began Dec. 5 in protest against the government's planned overhaul of the pension system. Macron has held steadfast in his opinion that the 42 various plans currently in place need be consolidated into one.
Payouts in the new plan would be calculated according to the sum of the salaries earned from across a worker's career, rather than according to their last five years. The result, unions say, would be to significantly reduce payouts to workers.
Macron's plan would also phase out early retirement advantages of certain sectors, primarily the civil service, by adjusting various "hardship" criteria.
Dozens of protesters also blocked the entrance to the Louvre museum, forcing the famous Paris landmark to close Friday.
The protesters at the Louvre, which included some museum employees, emerged as several hard-left trade unions appealed to the public to engage in actions to oppose a move they said would "lower everyone's pensions."
The museum's Leonardo da Vinci exhibit marking the 500th anniversary of the Italian master's death was included in the closure. Some protesters chanted, "Mona Lisa is on strike, Leonardo is on strike."
It is the first time since Dec. 5 that the Louvre and its Leonardo exhibit were fully shut down. Around 30,000 people visit the museum every day. Some videos on social media showed angry visitors booing at museum protesters to express their disappointment.
Some of those shut out of the Louvre were upset, while a few interviewed expressed solidarity with the strikers.
"I think it's fine if they want to protest but they shouldn't block the plans of people who have flown over here to see an exhibition of Leonardo," said Ben Garrett of Dallas, Texas. Gerhard Jehle of Germany, who had bought his ticket in advance, shared this view, saying he was "badly informed about the extent of the strike."
"I don't understand how this happens," Jehle said. "Public transport doesn't function. The unions have to be controlled with an iron hand."
Argentinian Marcelo Campano, who also had a ticket, said that he understood the workers' bid to confront a government they perceive as neoliberal: "So we'll show our solidarity and come back another day."
The action at the Louvre was one of several signs of mounting tensions among strikers. Several dozen people on Friday invaded the headquarters of the CFDT union, which is favorable to a point-system Macron wants to put in place to determine retirement benefits.
The crowd were seen on video singing and mocking the union's leader. Macron condemned the action as violent, unacceptable and "shameful for our democracy."
In a more playful bid for attention, dozens of lawyers opposing the president's proposed pension reforms put on a dance show in Versailles wearing their black robes Unions called for a seventh round of street marches next Friday, when the contested pension plan is to be presented to the Cabinet.
The weeks of strikes and protests have hobbled public transportation and disrupted schools, hospitals, courthouses and even opera houses and the Eiffel tower.
Major French retailers Fnac Darty and Casino said that business in France has been badly affected by the strikes, especially during the holiday season. Fnac Darty said the strikes cost it around 70 million euros ($78 million) in lost revenue, while Casino cut its forecast for earnings growth in France, where it does more than half its business, to 5% in 2019, from a previous 10%. The company estimates that the strikes in December cost it about 80 million euros in lost revenue. Shares in both companies were down by more than 5%.
The prime ministertarget="_blank"'>While the number of striking workers has diminished since the movement, the country's trains and the Paris subway were still disrupted Friday.
Last Update: January 18, 2020 16:36