This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/world/europe/france-labor-law-protests.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Macron Faces First Big Street Protests, a Challenge to His Labor Overhaul | Macron Faces First Big Street Protests, a Challenge to His Labor Overhaul |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| PARIS — Thousands turned out Tuesday for mass demonstrations intended to protest the country’s new labor code, but by day’s end the anger seemed directed more specifically at its author: President Emmanuel Macron, whose ambition for change has unnerved many in France. | PARIS — Thousands turned out Tuesday for mass demonstrations intended to protest the country’s new labor code, but by day’s end the anger seemed directed more specifically at its author: President Emmanuel Macron, whose ambition for change has unnerved many in France. |
| The rallies were the first major street protests faced by Mr. Macron, and a barometer of the public’s reaction to him. The crowd size was about what had been expected, and smaller than demonstrations last year against changes in labor laws. | The rallies were the first major street protests faced by Mr. Macron, and a barometer of the public’s reaction to him. The crowd size was about what had been expected, and smaller than demonstrations last year against changes in labor laws. |
| But they nonetheless indicated the challenges ahead for Mr. Macron, who has seen his popularity plunge since he upset France’s political landscape in May by winning the presidency and creating a new political party, which won a majority of seats in Parliament. | |
| On Tuesday, Mr. Macron was nowhere near the protests, but rather was visiting the French islands of St. Martin and St. Barthélemy in the Caribbean after they were hit by Hurricane Irma last week. Still, the president was ever-present in the streets. | |
| He, rather than any specific change to the labor code, was the most frequent target of criticism, particularly over what has been perceived as a dismissive and insulting attitude toward workers. That included recent remarks that were interpreted as implying that opponents of his labor law were lazy. | He, rather than any specific change to the labor code, was the most frequent target of criticism, particularly over what has been perceived as a dismissive and insulting attitude toward workers. That included recent remarks that were interpreted as implying that opponents of his labor law were lazy. |
| Toting signs and chanting, people seemed more preoccupied with Mr. Macron than with the law. “Macron you are rotten, the slackers are in the streets,” some chanted at rallies in Paris. | Toting signs and chanting, people seemed more preoccupied with Mr. Macron than with the law. “Macron you are rotten, the slackers are in the streets,” some chanted at rallies in Paris. |
| The taunt played on remarks Mr. Macron made last week in Greece, saying he was determined not to cede anything, “neither to slackers, nor to cynics, nor extremists.” | The taunt played on remarks Mr. Macron made last week in Greece, saying he was determined not to cede anything, “neither to slackers, nor to cynics, nor extremists.” |
| Although Mr. Macron didn’t specify exactly to whom he was alluding with the remark, he later claimed that he meant “all of those who for the past 15 years have said we mustn’t move in France and in Europe.” Many opponents of his changes nonetheless felt personally outraged and aggrieved. | Although Mr. Macron didn’t specify exactly to whom he was alluding with the remark, he later claimed that he meant “all of those who for the past 15 years have said we mustn’t move in France and in Europe.” Many opponents of his changes nonetheless felt personally outraged and aggrieved. |
| “I’ve been working for the past 32 years. I wake up everyday at 5 a.m. I’m no slacker and my work is hard,” Serge Amely, 50, a nurse’s aide, said at the demonstration on Tuesday, adding that he felt the comments were “unworthy” of a leader. | “I’ve been working for the past 32 years. I wake up everyday at 5 a.m. I’m no slacker and my work is hard,” Serge Amely, 50, a nurse’s aide, said at the demonstration on Tuesday, adding that he felt the comments were “unworthy” of a leader. |
| In addition to union members, some supporters of the far-left France Unbowed movement, which is headed by the former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, also turned out for the march. | In addition to union members, some supporters of the far-left France Unbowed movement, which is headed by the former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, also turned out for the march. |
| Their focus, too, appeared to be less the labor law and more the future belt-tightening that Mr. Macron has promised, as well as his style of governing. | Their focus, too, appeared to be less the labor law and more the future belt-tightening that Mr. Macron has promised, as well as his style of governing. |
| Organizers said they would stage more demonstrations in the coming weeks — the next one on Sept. 23. That leaves open the possibility that numbers in the streets could build. | Organizers said they would stage more demonstrations in the coming weeks — the next one on Sept. 23. That leaves open the possibility that numbers in the streets could build. |
| More than 60,000 people demonstrated in Paris on Tuesday, according to unions, who called the protests a success. The Paris police prefecture said the figure was closer to 24,000. There were smaller protests in more than 180 cities, towns and communities around France. | More than 60,000 people demonstrated in Paris on Tuesday, according to unions, who called the protests a success. The Paris police prefecture said the figure was closer to 24,000. There were smaller protests in more than 180 cities, towns and communities around France. |
| The overall mood was calm, though law enforcement officials used tear gas and protesters sometimes threw rocks during sporadic clashes on the fringes of the main march in Paris. Last year, weeks of protests against similar labor changes were sometimes marred by violence. | The overall mood was calm, though law enforcement officials used tear gas and protesters sometimes threw rocks during sporadic clashes on the fringes of the main march in Paris. Last year, weeks of protests against similar labor changes were sometimes marred by violence. |
| The changes to the labor code would loosen regulations for small companies, make it easier to hire and fire employees, and enable businesses to negotiate certain workplace issues at the company level rather than having to abide by industrywide agreements. | The changes to the labor code would loosen regulations for small companies, make it easier to hire and fire employees, and enable businesses to negotiate certain workplace issues at the company level rather than having to abide by industrywide agreements. |
| Mr. Mélenchon said on Tuesday that Mr. Macron “can and must back down.” | Mr. Mélenchon said on Tuesday that Mr. Macron “can and must back down.” |
| “This isn’t our last stand,” Mr. Mélenchon told reporters at a demonstration in the southern city of Marseille, part of the area he represents in the lower house of Parliament. “We are organizing a relentless defense of the labor code.” | “This isn’t our last stand,” Mr. Mélenchon told reporters at a demonstration in the southern city of Marseille, part of the area he represents in the lower house of Parliament. “We are organizing a relentless defense of the labor code.” |
| But the government is not expected to budge. Mr. Macron is enacting the overhaul to the labor rules by decree, and the changes are expected to be implemented this month. | But the government is not expected to budge. Mr. Macron is enacting the overhaul to the labor rules by decree, and the changes are expected to be implemented this month. |
| Undercutting the protests’ impact are union divisions, with only one major union mounting full-throated opposition. | |
| Only the hard-line General Confederation of Labor, or C.G.T., called on its members to demonstrate on Tuesday. Several other major unions chose to compromise with the government and try to shape its policies to make them more acceptable to workers. | Only the hard-line General Confederation of Labor, or C.G.T., called on its members to demonstrate on Tuesday. Several other major unions chose to compromise with the government and try to shape its policies to make them more acceptable to workers. |
| Alain Cure, a 66-year-old elementary-school principal in Paris and a union member, said it was “important to show that we, as union workers, are united.” | Alain Cure, a 66-year-old elementary-school principal in Paris and a union member, said it was “important to show that we, as union workers, are united.” |
| Mr. Cure, who was waiting for a march to start on the Place de la Bastille in Paris, said that although the labor overhaul would not affect him, it was important to send a message ahead of other planned changes. Mr. Macron’s government is also planning to overhaul France’s pension and unemployment systems. | Mr. Cure, who was waiting for a march to start on the Place de la Bastille in Paris, said that although the labor overhaul would not affect him, it was important to send a message ahead of other planned changes. Mr. Macron’s government is also planning to overhaul France’s pension and unemployment systems. |
| “If Macron passes the reforms, then he will have more powers to pass further reforms,” Mr. Cure said. | “If Macron passes the reforms, then he will have more powers to pass further reforms,” Mr. Cure said. |