For this new day of demonstrations against the pension reform, the unions are already announcing a “historic mobilization”. In Poitou-Charentes, opponents of the project answered the call.
In Poitiers, the police counted 10,000 demonstrators. The CGT claims more than 22,000 on Tuesday March 7, against 10,000 a month ago.
“I am here today for my spouse, for my children, and out of solidarity for all those younger than me, who may not have the chance to retire at 62.” In the Poitevin procession, Corinne, who retired a year ago, insisted on joining the ranks “Because we’re worn out. Already at 62, I couldn’t take it anymore. We’re worn out. It’s at 60 that you need it, not at 64.”
We all come to demonstrate. It’s for young people, it’s for everyone in fact. So we come here in the name of the whole of France.
Zoé, law and philosophy student
To parade in Poitiers, families were also there. Paul, boilermaker-welder came with his children: “Schools are also on strike. So we had 1 teacher out of the 2 children who were present. But hey, it’s also part of teaching future generations to assume their ideas and show it.” For him, there is no question of staying at home in these circumstances: “At no time do we hesitate to come to these movements. In addition, you see, there are people. It still reflects the opinion of the little people quite a bit.”
In Châtellerault, this Tuesday morning, the unions counted 4,000 demonstrators, against 2,500 on February 7.
In Angoulême, the inter-union claims 18,000 people, and if the police count 7,500, it is more than the 4,800 counted a month ago. Present in the procession, the new deputy of Charente, René Pilato welcomes this influx: “It’s the start of something, we’re going to have to drive the point home throughout the week. Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, then it’s the students who join the dance, then the climate. It’s a week of mobilization, we’re at the start and it’s rather encouraging.”
In La Rochelle, with 5,500 to 6,500 participants, the mobilization has also intensified.
Finally, parades also took place in towns such as Thouars or Bressuire, where our colleagues from the New Republic counted 1,450 and 2,000 people respectively.
