Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Thursday in a 12th day of protests against President Emmanuel Macron's contested pension reforms, which will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The demonstrations come a day before a much-awaited verdict by the Constitutional Council on the legality of the bill. Follow our blog to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2)
- The interior ministry said 380,000 people protested across France, down from 570,000 the week before. Unions estimated nationwide turnout at more than 1 million, compared with 2 million a week ago, significantly fewer than the nearly 1.3 million who took to the streets at the height of the protests back in March.
- This newest wave of protests took place a day before Friday's much-awaited verdict by the Constitutional Council on the legality of the bill.
- Macron has snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks but has said he will invite them for discussions after Friday’s court ruling.
- Public anger over the reform was further ignited after the government used Article 49.3 – known as the "nuclear option" – to push pension reform through parliament without a vote on March 16, sparking widespread anger. Days later, the government narrowly survived two no-confidence votes.
- French President Emmanuel Macron insists the proposed changes, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, are needed to reform a moribund system. But some of the government’s own experts have said the pension system is in relatively good shape and would likely return to a balanced budget even without reforms.
- Although turnout decreased, clashes between protesters and police were reported in several cities, including in Paris, Rennes and Nantes. Prior to the Paris march starting, more than 100 railroad workers briefly invaded luxury group LVMH’s headquarters near the Champs-Élysées.
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