Furious French protest the government's pension bill with casseroles
2 Min Read
The "casserolade" event was organized by ATTAC, an anti-capitalist activist group.
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Police officers stand guard as members of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) trade union and protesters take part in a demonstration against the newly signed pension reform in front of the Theatre de Paris, in Paris on April 24, 2023. (AFP)
Protesters in France have taken to the streets again, this time banging pots and pans to express their indignation over the government's unpopular pension bill, which would prolong the age at which people may retire in the European country.
People rallied in front of the city halls of Paris, Rennes, and Marseille to sarcastically "celebrate" the anniversary of President Emmanuel Macron's re-election, despite persistent resentment over his pension changes.
Macron's popularity has reportedly never been this low since the peak of the Yellow Vests protests back in 2018.
Read more: French police violently cracked down on protestors to disperse them
The "casserolade" event was organized by ATTAC, an anti-capitalist activist group, on Monday evening.
French students also stormed Paris train stations in protest of the contentious law, which has provoked three months of protests and strikes.
Earlier in the day, French protesters used cooking utensils to welcome ministers on official trips, including Health Minister François Braun, who visited a hospital in Poitiers, and Education Minister Pap Ndiaye, who detoured in Lyon to escape the demonstrators.
During a walkabout in the eastern Alsace area last week, Macron was booed and heckled by protestors banging on saucepans.
It prompted a response from French cookware producer Cristel, which said in a tweet that it was now producing stainless steel pans particularly to "advance" the country.
«Ce ne sont pas les casseroles qui vont faire avancer la France»
— CRISTEL (@cristelfrance) April 20, 2023
Monsieur le Président, chez @cristelfrance nous fabriquons des casseroles qui font avancer la France !!!
🇫🇷 Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, avec des collections inox certifiées Origine France Garantie pic.twitter.com/0gdqbpzzez
In March, the French administration used an emergency constitutional procedure to get the controversial pension bill through parliament, avoiding a vote in the National Assembly.
After France's top court approved the bill, Macron defied requests to postpone its implementation by signing it, infuriating the population.
The main provision of the bill is an increase in the minimum retirement age in France from 62 to 64. It also extends the number of years that people must contribute for a full pension. Macron contends that the measure is necessary to save the pension system from imploding.
Trade unions, on the other hand, argue that it is unjust and would disproportionately harm low-skilled workers in physically demanding occupations who begin their careers early.
