According to AFP html on the 216th, tens of thousands of protesters marched on the streets of Paris, the French capital that day, expressing their dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living. Prior to this, refinery strikes had lasted for three weeks, causing fuel shortages across France.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched on the streets of Paris, the French capital that day. Source: Visual China
Report said that the protest was initiated by left-wing activists who opposed Macron and led by the leader of the French far-left party "France Unsubmited" party, Jean-Luc Melenchon, (Jean-Luc Melenchon).
reported that the organizer said 140,000 people participated in the march, but the police said there were 30,000 people. Statistics from the news media organization "Occurrence", including AFP, show that the actual number of participants is about 29,500.
After protesters threw objects at security forces, security forces fired tear gas several times and used batons. On the edge of the parade, a masked man in black even smashed a bank.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched on the streets of Paris, the French capital that day. Source: Visual China
Some protesters wore yellow fluorescent vests, which is a symbol of the French "yellow vest" movement that began in 2018. The demands raised by the movement include: better achievement of social justice, more reasonable distribution of wealth, and more effective response to environmental problems.
"It's time to wake up," said Christopher Savidan, a party activist who has been unemployed for five years. "The people at the top are out of reality. We pay taxes, but don't know why. Everything is getting worse." AFP noted that Macron's opponents want to take advantage of the political momentum created by the refinery strike that began in late September. Mei Langxiong told the protesters: "We will have an unusual week... Everything comes together. From the beginning of this parade, it is a huge success." He also called for a "general strike" on Tuesday. Some French unions have declared the day a national strike day, with industries participating in the strikes including road transport, trains and public sector .
According to French Commercial FM TV, workers went on strike in 6 of the seven French refineries, resulting in supply shortages and panic buying. The French government held a ministerial meeting last Wednesday to try to resolve the intensifying energy crisis after nearly one-third of France's gas stations reported fuel shortages.
AFP said that as of the 16th, 4 of the seven refineries were still in a state of shutdown. These refineries belong to Paris-based French energy giant Total Petroleum. The company announced last Friday that it had reached a compensation agreement with two major unions representing its refinery employees, bringing hope to the end of the deadlock. But the tough French Federation of Trade Unions (CGT) is still refusing to accept the agreement, and its members continue to maintain the strike.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched on the streets of Paris, the French capital that day. Source: Visual China
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told French TV One (TF1) on the evening of the 16th that if the situation remained tense on Monday, the authorities would take more coercive measures to force strikers to return to their posts.
reported that French energy companies have made huge profits for record fuel prices, which has made some French people sympathize with refinery employees who are asking for a salary increase. A survey released by the poll agency BVA on Friday showed that 37% of French people supported the strike.
AFP said that although the march and rally held in Paris on the 16th was initiated by Melanchon's political party, it received the support of its allies.
Annie Ernaux, who recently won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and 60 other people from the art world and other public figures also called on the public to participate in the parade in a joint letter.
(Editor: ZLQ)
