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
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

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

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

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