2023 French pension reform strikes

2023 French pension reform unrest
*Manifestations contre la réforme des retraites en France*
2023 French pension reform unrest ; Manifestations contre la réforme des retraites en France
Part of the protests against Emmanuel Macron
	A demonstration in Besançon on 11 February
Date	19 January – 8 June 2023 (4 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Location	France
Caused by	Pension reform of the Borne government
Goals	Cancellation of the pension reform of the Borne government
Methods	Labor strikes; Picketing; Demonstrations; Civil resistance; Civil disobedience; Direct action; Internet activism; Civil disorder; Street blockades; Barricades; Riots; Vandalism; Arson; Looting;
Status	Failed
Parties
Anti-government protesters; Trade unions List General Confederation of Labour; French Democratic Confederation of Labour; Workers' Force; French Confederation of Management – General Confederation of Executives; French Confederation of Christian Workers; National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions; Union syndicale Solidaires; Fédération Syndicale Unitaire; Confédération nationale du travail; ; Anarchists List Anarchist Federation; Union communiste libertaire; ; Supported by: NUPES La France Insoumise; Europe Ecology – The Greens; Socialist Party; French Communist Party; ; Radical Party of the Left; New Anticapitalist Party; Lutte Ouvrière;	French Republic Government of France Emmanuel Macron; Borne government; Law enforcement National Police Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité; ; National Gendarmerie Mobile Gendarmerie; ; Rural Guard; ; Military French Army; National Guard; ; Supported by: Ensemble Citoyens Renaissance; Democratic Movement; Horizons; Radical Party; ; The Republicans; Reconquête; Opposition to both reform and strikes: National Rally; LR dissidents;
Lead figures
	Decentralized leadership (various social leaders); Trade union leaders:; Philippe Martinez; Sophie Binet; Frédéric Souillot; Laurent Berger; Laurent Escure; François Hommeril; Emmanuel Macron; Élisabeth Borne; Gérald Darmanin; Sébastien Lecornu;
Number
1–3.5 million (according to trade unions, depending on the days of demonstrations) 368k–1.28M (according to interior ministry, depending on the days of demonstrations)
Casualties and losses
~ 450 injured	~ 117 injured

A series of protests began in France on 19 January 2023 with a demonstration of over one million people nationwide, organised by opponents of the pension reform bill proposed by the Borne government to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.

The strikes led to widespread disruption, including garbage piling up in the streets and public transport cancellations. In March, the government used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to force the bill through the French Parliament, sparking more protests and two failed no confidence votes, contributing to an increase in violence in protests alongside the union-organised strike action.

Several organizations, including human rights groups such as Reporters Without Borders and France's Human Rights League condemned France's crackdown on protests and also denounced the assault on journalists. In addition, the Council of Europe also criticised the "excessive use of force by agents of the state".

^ "Réforme des retraites : Une nouvelle casserolade en petit comité à Troyes". 8 June 2023.
^ Vidalon, Dominique; Ausloos, Manuel (18 March 2023). Holmes, David; Graff, Peter; Wallis, Daniel (eds.). "Paris police, protesters clash for third night over Macron's pension reform". Reuters. Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Forrest Crellin. Paris. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "Éric Zemmour soutient la réforme des retraites du gouvernement". Le HuffPost (in French). 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
^ Clair, Alice; Guillot, Julien (2 February 2023). "Réforme des retraites : suivez l'ampleur de la mobilisation, manifestation après manifestation" [Retirement Reform: follow the size of the mobilisation, protest after protest]. Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

[1] "Réforme des retraites : Une nouvelle casserolade en petit comité à Troyes". 8 June 2023.

[reuters20230318-2] Vidalon, Dominique; Ausloos, Manuel (18 March 2023). Holmes, David; Graff, Peter; Wallis, Daniel (eds.). "Paris police, protesters clash for third night over Macron's pension reform". Reuters. Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Forrest Crellin. Paris. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

[3] "Éric Zemmour soutient la réforme des retraites du gouvernement". Le HuffPost (in French). 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.

[4] Clair, Alice; Guillot, Julien (2 February 2023). "Réforme des retraites : suivez l'ampleur de la mobilisation, manifestation après manifestation" [Retirement Reform: follow the size of the mobilisation, protest after protest]. Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

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