(ANSAmed) - PARIS, 01 FEB - After a massive protest that on
Tuesday filled France's streets, the government has said that it
intends to "discuss" and "listen to" the protestors but that it
will nonetheless go forward with the pension reform as pledged
by Emmanuel Macron.
On France 2, Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt said that the protest was "very important and this must induce us to try to always discuss, to convince, and to do it with a sense of humbleness", but noted that the reform was "necessary, since today the system is no longer holding", starting with the the hotly debated raise in the retirement age to 64.
On France Inter, Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal expressed "respect" for the "French who took the time, a day, to stand up for their convictions".
"Obviously," he added, "there is the need not only to listen but also to understand the message of these protests." "Yesterday was the largest protest [in 30 years, Ed] including that of 1995," CFDT chief secretary general Laurent Berger said on RTL.
Some 1.27 million people took to the streets, according to the government, 2.5 million according to trade union estimates.
CGT chief Philippe Martinez on France Inter accused the government of wanting to engage in a "strong-arm contest", and warning it not to minimise the discontent among the population. More protests have been announced by trade unions for Feb 7 and Feb 11. (ANSAmed).
On France 2, Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt said that the protest was "very important and this must induce us to try to always discuss, to convince, and to do it with a sense of humbleness", but noted that the reform was "necessary, since today the system is no longer holding", starting with the the hotly debated raise in the retirement age to 64.
On France Inter, Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal expressed "respect" for the "French who took the time, a day, to stand up for their convictions".
"Obviously," he added, "there is the need not only to listen but also to understand the message of these protests." "Yesterday was the largest protest [in 30 years, Ed] including that of 1995," CFDT chief secretary general Laurent Berger said on RTL.
Some 1.27 million people took to the streets, according to the government, 2.5 million according to trade union estimates.
CGT chief Philippe Martinez on France Inter accused the government of wanting to engage in a "strong-arm contest", and warning it not to minimise the discontent among the population. More protests have been announced by trade unions for Feb 7 and Feb 11. (ANSAmed).
