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Protests against Emmanuel Macron

(Redirected from 2017–2018 protests in France)

Since Emmanuel Macron was elected President of France on 7 May 2017, a series of protests have been conducted by trade union activists, left-wing activists and right-wing activists in opposition to what protesters consider to be neoliberal policies and globalism,[3][4] his support of state visits by certain world leaders,[5][6] his positions on French labour law reform,[7][8][9] as well as various comments or policy proposals he has made since assuming the presidency.[10][11]

Protests against Emmanuel Macron
Date7 May 2017 – present
(7 years, 6 months, 2 weeks and 1 day)
Location
France
Caused by
MethodsDemonstrations, riots, vandalism, arson, assault
StatusOngoing

According to Amnesty International, French authorities have used the state of emergency, which was in effect from the November 2015 Paris attacks until November 2017, to suppress protests, employing their emergency powers. They "imposed 639 measures preventing specific individuals participating in public assemblies. Of these, 574 were targeted at those protesting against proposed labour law reforms".[12]

Post-election

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On 8 May 2017, only a few hours after Macron was announced the winner of the 2017 French presidential election, union protesters began clashing with French authorities in Paris under fears that Macron's economic program would take away workers' rights.[13][14] The protest was organised by "Social Front", which had already staged protests before the second round to protest the two frontrunners, Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron.[15] One specific protest organized by the Social Front had 950 to 1,500 protesters[8] with individuals trying to occupy publicly owned buildings like a railway station in Rennes.[16] Nearly 150 protesters were arrested after reports of missiles being thrown at the police and mass vandalism being done.[17]

The 8 May protest was supported by the CGT and SUD unions.[9]

Protests

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2017

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Protest against Macron in Paris on 23 September 2017

After Macron was inaugurated on 15 May 2017, there were numerous warnings from Labour unions about the prospect of a large organized protest.[18][19] The CGT Union has attempted numerous times to organise a large-scale demonstration against Macron with one taking place on 12 September 2017.[20] Macron has actively tried to prevent this by opening Labor code reform negotiations with trade unions.[9] The reception among the unions has been mixed with the head of the FO union supporting the negotiations,[21] the CFDT deciding to stay neutral, not participating in the 12 September protests[22] and the CGT denouncing the negotiations alongside its ally SUD.[7] Jean-Luc Mélenchon from La France Insoumise has spoken in support of the 12 September protest encouraging members to attend. Mélenchon himself organized a protest on 12 July 2017.[23][24] In response to the protests, Macron supported their right to peacefully protest. However, he told the protesters that he would "not yield anything, either to the lazy, the cynics or the extremes." The turnout to the September 12 anti-Macron protests was lower than the turnout to the pro-labour demonstrations against President Hollande the year prior.[25]

US President Donald Trump's state visit to France during Bastile Day was met with protests, protesters gathered around Place de la République to create a "No Trump Zone".[26] Protesters were reportedly protesting about the Trump visit and Macron's policies; with the ranks of the protesters being made up of socialists, pro-Palestinian groups, migrants' rights activists, environmentalists and anti-fascists.[5] Despite mass protests, 59% of French people approve of Trump's visit.[27]

Following Prime Minister Édouard Philippe's announcement of the plans for immigration reform, a small protest was led by a group of LGBT activists in Paris holding up a sign reading "Macron starves migrants, queers without borders"[10]

A series of protests by wine producers in the South of France have been ongoing since François Hollande's presidency. These demonstrations generally involve arson, sabotage and assault.[11] These protests are caused by the importation of wine rather than buying it from French producers and the loss of culture. These protests have led to a 25% decrease in sales for Spanish wine producers.[28] Spanish tankers transporting wine are usually the target of these attacks.[29][30]

Pro-Palestinian protesters began to demonstrate against Macron offering Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu a place at the Paris Holocaust Ceremony.[31] The French Communist Party also opposed Netanyahu's visit. The organizers of the protest were unknown but Le Muslim Post, a religious radioshow promoted the demonstration, encouraging listeners to attend.[32]

23 March 2018

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200,000 rallied against Macron nationwide.[33]

19 April 2018

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Tens of thousands of striking rail workers, public sector staff and students rallied across France against President Emmanuel Macron. The SNCF and CGT were the major unions in the protests against plans by Macron to remove job-for-life guarantees and pension privileges for new recruits.[34]

13 May 2018

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Transport workers continued to protest against rampant privatisation efforts in France. Key SNCF services were reduced on Sunday.[35]

26 May 2018

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A day after the Emmanuel Macron "suggested he could be close to victory in a public battle over his reform agenda,"[36] several thousands people across France, led by CGT trade union and some 80 other organizations protested against Macron's reforms of the public sector, described by the organizers as imbalanced and "brutal."[37] According to CGT 80,000 people participated in the protest in Paris, and 250,000 came out across the country. However, France Police said that 21,000 people participated in the Paris protests and that 35 protesters were detained for various "offences".[38] Police fired tear gas and deployed 2000 officers to the event and the demonstrators were holding placards reading "Stop Macron!".[39]

Yellow Vests protests

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A gilets jaunes protest in Mont-de-Marsan on 17 November 2018
Main article: Yellow vests movement

In October 2018, Macron announced that the carbon tax would rise in 2019. This was seen as a move crippling the rural class who had no other choice than to use the car and could not afford more expensive fuel. On 17 November 2018, protests occurred in most major cities, and highways were blocked. Protests started again next Saturday and are still occurring on every Saturday as of June 2019. This movement is noticed for having no official leader and its independence, in spite of appropriation attempts by the France Insoumise (Unsubmitted France) and the Rassemblement National (National Rally) parties.

5 December 2019

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Main article: 2019 French Pension Reform Plan Strike

A general strike to protest changes to France's pension system proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. More than 800,000 people protested across the country.[40][41][42]

Protests 2020–2021

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Main article: 2021 French labor protests

Thousands of protesters marched peacefully in a small group against the legislative bill that will criminalise the publish & circulation of the photograph of police office, which the opponent says would limit the press freedom. The protest is also organised to show the anger over the footage where a music producer Michel Zecler [fr] a black man, being beaten by three police officers in Paris on 21 November 2020. Some small group of masked protesters dressed in black, burnt down two cars, a motorcycle and a cafe and smashed the windows of the local shops. In response police fired tear gases and stun grenades to disperse the crowd. They also used fired water cannon. The interior ministry said that 46,000 protesters participated in the protest in Paris and nine were arrested.[43]

COVID-19 protests

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Main article: Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic § France

Numerous protests took place in 2021 following the introduction of health passes to enter certain public venues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures were introduced by Macron's government to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in France.[44]

2022 French presidential election protests

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Main article: 2022 French presidential election

On 16 April, after Macron's victory in the first round of presidential voting, left wing demonstrators clashed with police. French security forces fired tear gas as the anti right-wing demonstrators marched, before allowing the protests to resume.[45] On 24 April, after Macron's victory in the second round of presidential voting, protests broke out in many departments. In the area of Châtelet, riot police charged and sprayed tear gas on demonstrators. Students protested outside of the Sorbonne, expressing their disillusionment of the lack of choice in second round voting.[46]

Autumn 2022 protests

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Main article: 2022 French protests

On 16 October 2022 tens of thousands marched in Paris in protests of rising cost of living at an inflation rate of more than 6%. Concomitantly there have been labor strikes at oil refineries and nuclear plants causing gas shortages.[47]

2023

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Main article: 2023 French pension reform strikes

A day of strikes and demonstrations took place throughout France against the government's pension reform project, which proposes to raise the retirement age to 64. Some are calling this the “Second French Revolution” as public services began strikes and workers quit their jobs. [48]

2024

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Main article: 2024 French protests against the far-right

Following the National Rally (RN) party's victory in 2024 European parliament elections and the resulting dissolution of parliament and snap elections called by Emmanuel Macron, several unions and left-leaning party organizations called for demonstrations across several cities in France, as well as for creating coalitions between left-leaning and far left political parties to prevent National Rally or Macron's party from achieving victory in French parliament.[49] While the protests primarily centered around resisting RN policies, most also voiced their disapproval with Macron's policies and attempts to temper civil disobedience with slogans such as "Macron-Bardella, same fight”, and “We are here even if Macron does not want it”. The CGT, who helped rally protests, released a press statement citing reasons for the protest that included opposition to the "policies of Emmanuel Macron".[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Thousands protest racism, police brutality, in French cities". 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Protesters clash with police at Paris protest against police violence". Reuters. 28 November 2020.
  3. ^ "France: Struggle over workplace rights looms as Macron secures power". Green Left Weekly. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  4. ^ Haddad, Tareq (7 May 2017). "French riot police fire gas canisters in face-off with anti-capitalist groups". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Anti-Trump protests erupt in Paris as President attends Bastille Day rally". The Independent. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Protesters in Paris rally against Israeli PM's visit". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Macron vs unions vs other unions". POLITICO. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  8. ^ a b "France election: Teenagers protest at candidates Macron and Le Pen". BBC News. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "French unions move quickly to resist Macron's labour reforms". Financial Times. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  10. ^ a b "LGBT activists protest French president Emmanuel Macron over asylum plan". Attitude Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  11. ^ a b Williams, David (16 July 2017). "Wine, protest and Macron: why southern French wine producers are so angry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  12. ^ "France: Unchecked clampdown on protests under guise of fighting terrorism". Amnesty International. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Paris protest shows the challenges facing Macron". Sky News. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  14. ^ Paris, Adam Sage | Charles Bremner. "Left-wing protesters march against Macron". Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  15. ^ "IN PICS: Just one day after Emmanuel Macron's election and Paris holds its first protest". 8 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  16. ^ ""Ni Le Pen, ni Macron" : manifestations houleuses de lycéens à Paris, Rennes et Nantes". Le Parisien. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  17. ^ "French election: Emmanuel Macron elected new president – CBBC Newsround". 8 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  18. ^ "The French President Is Spending His Summer Fighting Unions". Bloomberg L.P. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  19. ^ "French far-left leader calls day of protest, says Macron drunk on power". Reuters. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  20. ^ "French CGT union calls for Sept 12 strike against labour reforms". Reuters. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Jean-Claude Mailly : " Avec le gouvernement, il y a une vraie concertation " | Force Ouvrière". Force Ouvrière (in French). Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Laurent Berger (CFDT) : "Il n'y a ni confiance aveugle ni défiance généralisée" au sujet de la réforme du Code du travail" (in French). Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  23. ^ Reuters Editorial. "French far-left leader calls day of protest, says Macron drunk on power". Reuters UK. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ "French far-left leader calls day of protest, says Macron drunk on power". Reuters. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  25. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique. "'Slackers' take to streets in protest at Macron's labour law reforms". Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Protesters set up 'No Trump Zone' in Paris". The Independent. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Most French approve of Trump's visit (even after all he's said about France)". 13 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Angry French winemakers destroy Spanish wine in protest over imports | Toronto Star". Toronto Star. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Angry French winemakers attack Spanish lorries, block depot – Decanter". Decanter. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  30. ^ "Furious French wine makers hijack Spanish tankers, pouring 90,000 bottles down the drain". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  31. ^ "French groups to protest Netanyahu attendance at Paris Holocaust ceremony". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  32. ^ "Protest planned for Paris Holocaust memorial event during Netanyahu visit". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  33. ^ Mowat, Laura (23 March 2018). "PARIS ERUPTS: Furious scenes on streets of France as 200,000 rally against Macron".
  34. ^ "Thousands protest against Macron reforms across France | France News". Al Jazeera. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  35. ^ Bellamy, Daniel. "Emmanuel Macron faces a wave of strikes and protests in France". The Economist. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  36. ^ Chazan, David (26 May 2018). "Anti-Macron protests as president claims victory is close in battle with unions". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  37. ^ "Thousands across France protest President Macron's 'brutal' policies". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  38. ^ Staff. "France's far left leads protests against Macron reforms". U.S. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  39. ^ "Macron Is Depicted as a King Amid Protests of 'Soft Dictatorship'". The New York Times. 5 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  40. ^ "National Strike In France Shuts Down Cities Over Macron's Pension Reform Plans". NPR.org. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  41. ^ "Second day of strike brings more chaos to France". 6 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  42. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (6 December 2019). "France faces second day of travel chaos as strikes continue". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  43. ^ "Protesters clash with police at Paris protest against police violence". NBC News. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Thousands march against French Covid health pass for fifth week in a row". France 24. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  45. ^ French police fire tear gas as anti far-right protesters march in Paris, Reuters (published 16 April 2022), 24 April 2022
  46. ^ Police teargas Paris protestors after Macron re-elected, Reuters, 24 April 2022
  47. ^ Méheut, Constant (16 October 2022). "Tens of Thousands March in Paris to Protest Rising Living Costs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  48. ^ "Pension reform: new day of mobilization on 31 January". Le Point.fr. Groupe Artémis. Le Point. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  49. ^ "Européennes : victoire écrasante du Rassemblement national, Macron dissout l'Assemblée nationale". France 24 (in French). 9 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  50. ^ "Drapeau français arraché, bars attaqués, poubelles incendiées... Les manifestations de gauche «contre l'extrême droite» émaillées de tensions". Le Figaro (in French). 10 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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