Demonstrations broke out yet again in France, protesting the controversial pension reforms.

Labor unions called for these protests a day after French President Emmanuel Macron met with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and majority leaders in an attempt to pacify the situation and ease tensions.

The Prime Minister revealed after the meeting that negotiations with the majority, opposition, and unions will take place for three weeks, affirming intent on formulating a new legislative government program as per the president’s instructions.

The news network BMV reported that labor parties called on their forces to go on protests and strikes to paralyze vital and strategic sectors, and pinpointed 240 assembly points.

The wave of protests and strikes across the country had many vital sectors paralyzed and workflow disrupted including educational establishments, railway tracks, and desalination and power plants.

Orly airport, and other airports, asked airlines to decrease the number of flights by 20 percent on Thursday and Friday as the strikes continue to disrupt aviation movement.

Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, in a press conference, stated that 13,000 police officers, 5500 positioned in Paris, will be deployed to ensure safe protests.

The demonstrations within the past few days saw mounting tensions and clashes between radical protestors and police officers, prompting the minister to increase the number of police.

The protestors were expressing discontent over pension reforms that were passed without a vote as the government also survived a no-confidence vote.

The reforms include raising the age of retirement to 64 by the year 2030, as well as a reevaluation of the minimum pension.

The French government cited article 49.3 of the constitution to pass the law without voting on it in the parliament.

Source: Kuwait News Agency