Bordeaux (Gironde), special correspondent.
Nature was not kind to the people of Bordeaux this Thursday, April 13. “Be careful if you practice activities sensitive to weather risks or near a shore or a watercourse”, indicated Météo France on its website. But regardless of the gales or the showers announced, the demonstrators were again at the rendezvous on Place Gambetta. “We are here to put pressure, it is important that there are people in the street. I do not think that the Constitutional Council will censor the entire bill, even if I hope so”, primes a public finance officer.
The twelfth act of the mobilization against the pension reform smells of revolt. While the crowd is gradually growing at noon in front of the Place de la Bourse, a historic site of the city, demonstrators dressed in the red chasuble of the CGT motivate the troops: ” We don’t give up “, they sing. Thirty minutes later, the procession begins its journey: from Quai Richelieu to Place Gambetta, passing through the Cours d’Alsace-et-Lorraine. It is next to there that Maïtema confides. “I don’t want the movement to run out of steam, not after these three months of mobilization. That’s what the government hopes.”, dreads this first-year geology student at the University of Bordeaux. Like her, the young people she met show strong hostility against the executive. “I am disgusted because I have the impression that he will go through with the reform”laments Malie, 20, a third-year literature student at Bordeaux-Montaigne.
“We will go as far as withdrawal”
Beyond the demonstrations, Macron’s reform is part of a liberal policyregrets Titouan, 18, also a student at Bordeaux-III. It is a political choice to tax the lives of French people rather than businesses. That’s why we’re against it.” « On en a gros »summarizes a sign not far from him.
The songs accompany the advance of the procession. « ACAB » (initial of an English slogan that could be translated as “all cops are bastards”) , “Macron is waging war on us, his police too”, intone the demonstrators fervently against the police, while the stone buildings, characteristic of the city, disappear one by one. But anger is tinged with resignation. According to the CGT, 40,000 demonstrators beat the pavement in the Gironde city. A figure down compared to the previous mobilization of April 6, which had mobilized 60,000 people, according to the unions. And for good reason: after three months of demonstrations, targeted actions, blocking of universities, the « fatigue » accumulates especially among students according to William. “But we still have strength”warns this member of the Student Union Federation (FSE). “We will go as far as withdrawal.And his wish could be granted tomorrow. According to Météo France, this Friday, April 14 should be accompanied by a“changing weather accompanied by scattered showers”. After rain the good weather ?
