Today is the sixth day of protests against the proposed reform of the pension system will be a serious test for the French government, which wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

Opponents of the reform denounce the “unjust” plan, which mainly punishes hard workers.

CFDT Secretary General Laurent Berger predicted a day of “extremely strong mobilization” and urged President Emmanuel Macron “not to ignore the protests”, while Prime Minister Elisabeth Born, on the other hand, warned of the consequences for the country’s most defenseless French paralysis.

As part of today’s protests, protesters blockaded oil refineries in France.

Last night, protesters began blocking the main road of Rennes in western France.

At the same time, there are repeated strikes and demonstrations in many industries (transport, refineries, energy, trade, waste management, etc.).

On January 31, unions said they had taken 2.5 million protesters across the country (1.27 million, according to authorities) into the streets.

Between 1.1 and 1.4 million people are expected to take to the streets today, according to a police source. The CGT union is calling for 265 rallies across the country.

According to polls, the majority of French people are still against the reform, although they believe that it will eventually be implemented.

The French railway company SNCF and the transport of the French capital expect serious traffic disruptions today, but also tomorrow.

In terms of air transport, the DGAC has asked airlines to reduce flight schedules by 20-30% on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Road transport also participates in protests.

Elementary education union Snuipp-FSU estimates that 60% of teachers will join the strike and many thousands of schools are closed today. Mobilization is expected in twenty university institutions.

The Secretary General of CGT Energie predicts a “black week” in the energy sector with production cuts, mainly in the nuclear industry. Three of the four terminals that allow the import of liquefied natural gas into France are closed for seven days.

The government expects the Senate to approve the reform by Sunday and plans to hold a vote on March 16 in both houses of the French parliament.

“If the reform is approved, it is unlikely that mobilizations will remain at the same level,” says a government source.

Laurent Esquire of the Unsa union warned yesterday that the strike does not necessarily end with the approval of the bill because “the law passed may be revoked.”

“When laws are passed by Parliament, there is significant democratic legitimation,” says Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.