Mobilization "significant" according to unions, but still significantly lower than last year. Despite the thorny issue of pension reform, the traditional procession of May 1 did not fill, bringing some 350,000 people across France, according to the CGT, against 1.2 million people a year ago.
Trade unions, left parties and student organizations were called to take to the streets, in the words of Secretary General of the CGT, Bernard Thibault, "create a balance of power in discussion" with the government. The pension reform is expected before the end of the year and a new appointment office at the Elysee Palace will be held prior May 10
For its part, Workers Power had returned to tradition by going it alone.Its secretary general, Jean-Claude Mailly, said Saturday morning on Europe-1 radio that "the repeated demonstrations will not shake the government" on the proposed pension reform fast cash.
"Putting pressure on politicians'
In Paris, between 21,000 protesters and police said 45,000 people marched from one union between the Place de la R?publique and the Op?ra, against 160,000 in 2009 according to the CGT.In the march included union leaders sat Bernard Thibault (CGT), Fran?ois Ch?r?que (CFDT), Alain Olive (UNSA), Annick Coupe (Solidarity) and Bernadette Groison (FSU), as well as student union UNEF Jean-Baptiste UNL schoolboy Antoine Prevost Evennou.
In Toulouse, between 5,000 people, police and organizers said 6,000 marched in the rain Saturday morning, behind a banner of the Inter-CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidarity proclaiming: "All public-private jobs, wages, pensions and retirement. A procession much shorter than last year, when there were between 15,000 and 30,000 participants according to sources.
Parade and sparse rainfall in Lyon.