Retirement reforms - France

[MAD87]

The CGT and CFDT don't care about injuries to the police or damage to property, even though everybody will have to pay for it. Just as everyone will have to pay more for their pensions or do without.

[Blaze]

The French seem to be so accepting of wilful destruction and criminal damage .... as long as it doesn't happen to them. Even those affected seem to just shrug their shoulders.

Here is a map of who voted for who in the FIRST round in 2022. Clearly Macron, MLP and Melonhead were the favourites and the also-rans are insignificant. What does that tell you about what "the people" want ? ****
We always hear about those who protest voted for Macron to stop MLP getting in, but who did they vote for in the first round ? They clearly didn't vote for Melonhead !!

*** Of a population of 67+ million, 48+ million were inscribed to vote. Of that 48 million, 35 million actually bothered to vote. The rest abstained, voted blanc or damaged their voting paper.
https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections ... 22/FE.html

[Wilbro]

As MAD87 says the CGT and CFDT don't care about damage and disruption and I'm sure that the current unrest has well pleased the government in Moscow. It's an unfortunate strain that runs through French Union life and I just can't understand the mentality of people who destroy and vandalise the place where they live. Do they do it at home? Were they children who broke their toys when they didn't get their own way?

[Blaze]

@Wilbro Very well put.

King Charles's visit to Paris and Bordeaux has just been cancelled ....

[demi]

I saw some of the local manifestation yesterday, on my way to give my English class. Peaceful but I got a hell of a shock when thunderclaps were let off.

I live in a small town of c. 7,0000. There must have been about 250+ people all demonstrating & marching from the station to the Mairie. I was amazed at the turnout.

One of the pupils in my class, aged about late 60's, said thay had had a busy day as they'd been into Nantes in the morning to protest & then back here to protest this afternoon!

So differnt to the UK - I think I could write an essay on that subject!!

[niemeyjt]

Yes - UK protesters are all into these big demos where the Police can employ kettling to control crowds.

I remember reading about the son of a pop star who was jailed for swinging on the cenotaph saying when he came out the lags had told him the protestors got their tactics completely wrong - and the way to do it was with loads of smaller demonstrations which the Police cannot control so easily. Which is what the French do.

[MAD87]

@Wilbro More likely to break someone else's toys.
The sad fact is that business in particular has been hard hit by the Jilly Jones and their violence and destruction, multiple pandemic lockdowns, inflation and now this. Many won't get compensated by insurers for damage/fire to their premises for the umpteenth time and will simply close down.

What then, Messrs Martinez & Berger?

[Nomoss]

I don't know why the riots I saw in Paris last night are described as manifestations

[Blaze]

the way to do it was with loads of smaller demonstrations which the Police cannot control so easily. Which is what the French do.

Interesting, but demonstrations in the UK are not widespread. The mentality is very different and people tend only to demonstrate where the perceived problem is. The French will manifest wherever they want, because they want to and not because they're bothered about police control. That said, there is generally a lot of organisation behind French manifs, however small.
You never know, it might just catch on in the UK ...

Many won't get compensated by insurers for damage/fire to their premises for the umpteenth time and will simply close down.

And guess who will get the blame ? Not the rioters.

[Polly]

Protesters/rioters in France and particularly in Paris and Bordeaux, can claim to have frightened the French government into postponing King Charles’ visit due shortly. Poor President Macron, having been so proud to plan to receive the King’s first visit abroad.