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Latest update: 07/09/2010
- French politics - Retirement - strike
Mardi grève: two million expected to protest pension reform
All the papers are focusing on strike action over pension reform. “Mardi Grève” - Strike Tuesday - is common in October and November but rare so soon after the summer break. It’s taking place because parliament is debating a proposal to increase the retirement age. The “Mardi Grève” stories are in today’s press review: TUESDAY, 7th September 2010
Articles in today’s French press review:
Le Parisien – Aujour’d’hui en France
« What’s at stake in today’s day of action »The paper provides an overview of the protests. Activists want to block a government plan to raise the retirement age by two years by 2018.
Le Parisien – Aujour’d’hui en France
« French resigned to pension reform » Political scientist argues recent scandals have polarised the French and this strike is a classic right v left dispute.
La Croix
« What is a strike for?» The paper wonders what point there is in striking and turns to history to find out. Strikes, it says, have a two-century old pedigree in France.
« Strikes: rhythm of French social history » this article points out that there are more than five times fewer protest days today compared to the 1970s. It says strikes pre-date the unions in the country.
Libération
« Le Test » France’s main left-wing paper says Sarkozy wants to make pension reform a symbol of his five-year term. The paper argues there will be a test of strength between demonstrators are the president.
L’Humanite
« Le pouvoir doit battre en retraite » France’s main far-left paper argues Sarkozy is deliberately seeking confrontation. It says pension reform is unjust after workers have paid for the economic crisis and big business is reporting huge profits.
Le Figaro
« Sarkozy determined to hold firm on pensions » The paper backs the President and says the sums do the talking. France, it argues, has no choice but to raise the retirement age otherwise the costs will be crippling.
Le Figaro
« Sarkozy determined to see pension reform become law »
« How the unions have sapped and continue to sap our economy » The editorial writers says the strike today is a disgrace and is dealing a hammer blow to the French economy.
La Tribune
«Turning point in Sarkozy’s five-year term»
Les Echos
« Transports, schools, marches: protests are being organised » The paper says this strike is just the beginning with more days of action due in the coming weeks. One editorial says it would be political suicide for the President to backtrack on pension reform now.
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