I'm fine, but the System is broken

There are powerful images that strike Thursday in Paris: for example, the empty city in the Morning. As of 1995, the French laid the last Time against a Reform of their pension system rebelled, and Metro and train drivers to their work, were among the most impressive images of the 500 kilometers of traffic jams formed around Paris. 1995 Blockade meant a standstill. Today, the Blockade means for the first time just home office.

On the Morning of the General strike in France desperate capital is not in the traffic gridlock for motorists, it was, on the contrary, as relaxed as rarely. In the Metropolitan area of Paris there were between 8 and 8.30 am, 90 kilometers of traffic jams on the roads, but normally at this time of 280 kilometers.

people close

Very different is the mood in the afternoon, in the East, between the Gare de l'est and Place de la République was. On the big demo called for, among other things, the unions had, you could hardly move, so close the people were. 180'000 demonstrators, the police counted at noon in the whole of France, because of the protest March had begun in the capital yet. The Ministry of the interior spoke on the evening of 806'000 participants around the country, such as the radio news channel France reported info, and other media. The CGT was one of more than 1.5 million demonstrators – this was a "historic mobilization".

In the match, which begins on the first day of the strike, against the protesters and the government in a kind of vacuum. Until the middle of next week, Premier Edouard Philippe wants to give exact figures of the pension reform known. From what age can you should grab? It abolishes all the special rules? Yet all of this is open. In surveys, the researchers come to the same conclusion: The majority of French people want a Reform of the complicated pension system.

And the majority of the French did not trust the Reform Emmanuel Macron. From the Elysée Palace, it means that the President observed, "quiet, determined, and attentive" to the development. The population remains in solidarity with the strikers? The demonstrations remain peaceful?

From left to right -

The pension reform, is regarded as Macrons most ambitious project. The President wants to lead a change in the system so that for all workers, the same rules apply. The resistance against Macrons "universal system" is wide: From the Left to the extreme Right, Marine Le Pen, a large is in favour of part of the Opposition to the strikes.

And on the first day of public life in large Parts is paralyzed. The workers ' struggle, to persist, particularly transport and schools. In the case of the railway, SNCF, less than ten percent of the trains ran. In Paris and other cities, public transport almost came to a Standstill. Hundreds of flights were. Seven of the eight oil refineries were on strike, almost half of the teachers joined in the strike. Eric Fileyssant is one of the strike official. He works in the library of the natural history Museum, however, have locks that he and his colleagues, the reading rooms, and will be on the road. Fileyssant is on the Boulevard Magénta and winces when around the corner and explode to the Place de la République tear gas grenades of the police. Around him, the crowd cheers, and on the other side of the road a few people destroy the shelter of a Bush. Why Fileyssant is here? "In the 30s, my grandparents fought for the welfare system that we have today. But now, only downhill from here," he says. Since Macron ruled, felt his parents that their pension is less to life remain, says Fileyssant. He is less due to the pension reform here, but because he has not the feeling, "it goes on".

"The welfare state, save"

Similar to Marie, Davide and Anatol sound. You are studying computer science at the Sorbonne, don't want to say your last name, "you never know the context in which it is cited". You are here because you want to "save the welfare state". "We are not rich enough to benefit from Macrons policy," says Davide. "I didn't understand exactly what the pension reform, but there are so many topics, where the Macron is not doing enough. Climate Change, Health Care, Students." The three go on the road, since in Lyon, a Student set fire to his precarious situation closely. "This has shaken me," says Marie.

Behind them, marching students, between kindergarten teachers with pink vests and slung over his shoulder pacifiers. Many of the protesters are wearing yellow safety vests. As Brigitte Desprez, 59, to retire soon. "I'm fine, but the System is broken," says Desprez. You demonstrated earlier never chose mostly conservative. The yellow vests would "open the eyes".

Brigitte Desprez believes that most politicians are corrupt, most of the journalists lögen and Macron controlled by the corporations. She goes back tomorrow on the road? "Of course, as long as it takes." The pension reform, it is only on the edge. Macron is to come back.

Created: 05.12.2019, 20:16 Uhr