France unions continue protests, break into LVMH headquarters ahead of pension ruling

There have been widespread protests in France in recent days due to the French government’s proposal to raise the age of state pension by two years. Trade unions in the country have urged to take to the streets in a show of force the day before the country’s Constitutional Council rules on the legality of the bill.

During the demonstrations on Thursday, around 380,000 people took part, according to government data. This included the 42,000 that were at the protests in Paris. The numbers were down from the April 6 protests when 570,000 people took to the streets, with 57,000 in Paris. The Thursday demonstrations also led to clashes with law enforcement, including those in central Paris, where protesters were throwing projectiles at the police, who responded with teargas.

Union activists also stormed the headquarters of the luxury goods company LVMH in Paris, saying that the government should tax the rich more instead of making people work longer for their pension. Activists set off flares that filled the headquarters with red smoke and then left peacefully.

Should the Constitutional Council give its approval on the legality of the law, the government will then be made to implement the law, and this would eventually put an end to the demonstrations. However, protesters have said that they will continue even if the council approves the law, with most demonstrators wanting the bill to either be scrapped or put to a referendum.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has come under fire due to the proposal, said the law is needed to make sure that France’s pension system remains afloat. Macron said that he plans to hold a meeting with union leaders after the Council’s decision in order to work on other proposals.

Macron has also come under additional criticism due to his remarks following a recent visit to China. In an interview meant to show Europe’s unity, Macron warned against being drawn into a crisis over the island nation of Taiwan fueled by “American rhythm and Chinese overreaction.”

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell clarified Macron’s remarks, saying that the bloc’s position on Taiwan remains the same, as any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force would be unacceptable.