Full chaos on the streets: "Must listen to us"

 

French politics  

 

Hundreds of thousands strike in France  

 

Of:  

 

Nelly Kronstrand ,  

 

Emil Forsberg  

 

Published: Today 14.45  

 

Updated: Less than 2 hours ago  

 

NEWS  

 

Shops are looted, garbage cans are set on fire and protesters are sprayed with tear gas.  

 

Violent scenes have erupted as hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of France to show their displeasure at Macron's proposal to raise the retirement age.  

 

At the same time, an underground gas strike is underway to bring the country to a standstill.  

 

Burning garbage, blocked streets, closed schools and 280,000 voices echoing over the streets in Marseille alone.  

 

French media are reporting chaotic scenes as citizens of the country continue to strike against President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. 

 

"He must listen to us" 

 

It was last week that Macron announced that the government intended to push through the proposal - without the support of parliament via the controversial clause 49.3 of the country's constitution.  

 

According to Macron, the proposal is necessary because he believes that the current pension system is bleeding money and is too expensive for France. 

 

         

          Protests in Nantes. Photo: Jeremias Gonzalez/AP 

 

           

          Crowds of Marseille residents out to protest.  Photo: AP TT NEWS AGENCY

Photo: Bob Edme / AP  

But it's something that citizens don't buy. 

 

In several cities the people are still pouring into the streets ready to strike.  

 

- We are not going to let this go because we are in such a majority against Macron in this country, he has to listen to us, says a protester to Le Monde. 

 

At the same time, an underground gas strike is taking place, where the energy company Storengy has blocked the possibility of filling gas stocks for the winter. Production is also said to have decreased by 80 percent due to the strike. 

 

French Communist Party Secretary Fabien Roussel calls on the protesters to bring the country to a standstill. 

 

- I call on the French communist activists wherever they are, in their companies or workplaces, to participate in strikes for renewable energy. Make the country stop. Help block the lanes, he says according to Le Monde.  

 

The police use tear gas and water cannons  

 

According to the newspaper, several protesters testify about how the police try to disperse the crowds by using tear gas and water cannons.  

 

At about 80 high schools and universities, students have barricaded the premises with, among other things, garbage, Le Monde reports. 

 

- We are dissatisfied with the government's proposal, says a student to the newspaper. 

 

- Macron has said that the reform will come into effect on the first of September, so we have until then to convince him to withdraw the reform, says another. 

Photo: AP/TT