Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Bakers protest in Paris over surging energy costs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jan 2023 23:27
4 Min Read

Just as many other countries across the continent, Russian sanctions have caused the entire bloc to experience a surge in prices since Russia ceased to deliver gas. 

  • x
  • French bakers protest over surging power prices
    During a demonstration organized by the collective for bakers and artisans, in Paris, on January 23, 2023. (AFP)

Bakers in Paris launched massive rallies on Monday to protest the rising cost of energy which they say is threatening the bakery industry.

"We feel like there's a huge injustice," said Sylvie Leduc, one of the protesters, to reporters. "We know how to run a business, that's not a problem, but we're faced with increases that are just impossible to pass on to customers."  

« Bercy on arrive ! » manifestation des artisans boulangers en direction du Ministère de l'économie contre l'explosion des prix de l'énergie (@LucAuffret) #boulangers pic.twitter.com/effDxvEhZV

— Anonyme Citoyen (@AnonymeCitoyen) January 23, 2023

Just like many other countries across the continent, Russian sanctions have caused the entire bloc to experience a surge in prices since Russia ceased to deliver gas. 

Adding this to the effects of the pandemic that hit global supply chains, this results in an increase in the cost of raw materials such as butter and flour which are essential for bakers and artisans. 

The price of eggs has also increased because of a recent outbreak of bird flu which has spread across most French farms. 

The outrage was mainly sparked by energy suppliers asking for monthly payments from bakers above reasonable levels. 

"Thirty years of being a baker and it's going to finish like this? I could never have imagined it," said Leduc's husband Jean-Philippe, whose bill had increased six-fold in January.

"We don't want hand-outs, we just want to be able to live from our work."  

« Boulangers en danger ! Boulangers en danger ! »

La manifestation des #boulangers est partie de la place de la Nation. pic.twitter.com/BXlm5W4GbG

— L'insoumission (@L_insoumission) January 23, 2023

What particularly stings the French are the fact that French bread serves as a symbol of the national way of life.

President Emmanuel Macron reportedly has recently sought to support small business owners and welcomed bakers on January 6 to express his support for the industry.

Related News

CNBC unveils strategic plan to revitalize Syria energy sector with US

Syria to sign deal to import electricity from Turkey, minister says

He further spoke of various schemes that could decrease electricity bills by 40% for eligible businesses.

But several protesters stated that these schemes were either too complicated or too slow to deliver needed assistance. 

They also exclude smaller bakeries that employ lesser than 12 employees, for instance. 

Read more: Yemeni wrestler quits Grand Prix de France for having to face Israeli

Since January 19, trade unions have been carrying out massive strikes to protest the pension reform, numbering 200 across major cities which include Lyon, Toulouse, Marseilles, Lilles, Nantes, and Paris. 

To add insult to injury, Macron announced last Friday the proposal to allocate a huge chunk of public expenditures to boost the military in 2024-2030. 

Macron's plan essentially involves an increase of 413 billion euros ($446 billion) to the army in 2024-2030, up from 295 billion euros in the previous budget.

A pretext for suggesting such radical measures is that the head of state had scheduled several reforms prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, but their coming to being now has sparked strikes of a scale unseen in the past 30 years.

The purpose of the military boost is intended "to respond to the needs of the armed forces." It would pave the road for the change that France's military requires to deal with prospective challenges, in Macron's view. 

"As war is changing, France has and will have armies ready for the perils of the century," he said."We need to do better and do it differently," Macron explained, adding that “after repairing the armed forces, we are going to transform them.”

Likewise, expenditures for military intelligence to shield against cyber attacks will be raised by 60% for the same period. As for air defense, an increase of about 50% is proposed. 

By boosting military expenditures, France will be meeting "the expectations of a partner," namely NATO.

Read more: Approval rate of Macron, Borne fall to record lows over pension reform

  • Energy crisis
  • Strike
  • France

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS