France’s CGT union leader calls for nationwide strikes on November 5

Sophie Binet, leader of the influential French union CGT, has called for strikes on November 5 after meeting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, saying the talks produced no results. The meeting took place on Wednesday, following turbulent demonstrations on Saturday marked by violence and looting.

“The prime minister and the government have so far announced no measures and have not taken on board a single one of our demands,” Binet said. Most of those who took to the streets on Saturday were driven by concerns over the rising cost of living. They joined weeks of student protests against, among other things, underfunding of schools. “It is time to take our mobilization to the next level,” the CGT head said, adding that strikes should come next.

New protests and security measures

This coming Saturday, the “yellow vests” movement, which has no ties to the unions, is preparing a march through central Paris. The route is set to pass, among other places, through areas that rioters trashed on Saturday. Activists are trying to revive the campaign launched back in 2018 over rising prices and deteriorating public services. Students also plan a new protest on Saturday, wanting to remind the authorities of their demand for greater investment in education.

President Emmanuel Macron promised on Wednesday that the authorities would not allow a repeat of the violence and looting. On Thursday he will meet Lecornu and other ministers to receive a detailed briefing. According to him, the security forces will not let anyone who wants to stir up disorder on Saturday do so.

A curfew has been in force in parts of Paris for a third night in a row, the police prefecture reports. It was introduced after unrest at Saturday’s protests against high prices. The restriction applies, for example, to Place de la République. A similar order was in effect in Lyon overnight on Wednesday. In the evening and at night, unauthorized public gatherings are banned in Paris around the Élysée Palace, the National Assembly and the Champs-Élysées. Lecornu said on Tuesday that if the measures prove effective, the curfew will be kept.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz