The French authorities prohibited the protests during the new edition of the Cannes International Film Festival that begins on Tuesday, but in any case the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) is preparing various activities within the framework of the claims against the pension reform brought out by decree by President Emmanuel Macron, local media reported today.
The ban on holding demonstrations in the center and the vicinity of La Croisette is common every year, since the gaze of the media from all over the world and the parade of numerous renowned figures in the audiovisual industry make the “festival of festivals ” a unique platform to make all kinds of protests heard.
However, this year the security device will be strongly reinforced in the context of strong popular opposition to the pension reform, which among other aspects raises the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030.
In a heated atmosphere, with pans banging and booing officials wherever they go, the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes Department ordered an increase in the concentration of police officers.
Four riot forces will join the usual units, made up of agents on foot, cavalry and dogs. Different types of barriers will also be installed to surround the quintessential gathering of world cinema, all controlled by a network of more than 800 surveillance cameras.
Despite the measures ordered, the local division of the CGT central is organizing various protest measures that circumvent the prohibitions.
On Friday the 19th, for example, a concentration of workers from the hospitality sector was convened in front of an important hotel, which circumvents the perimeter because it is a private area.
In addition, on Sunday 21 and with the intention of also protesting gender inequality in the audiovisual industry, the CGT organized the screening-debate of the Colombian documentary “Love, women and flowers” (1988), by Marta Rodríguez and Jorge Silva, which deals with the struggle of women in Colombian flower plantations for better working conditions.
The main unions in France called for a new day of mobilization on June 6 against Macron and his pension reform.
This protest will take place two days before the National Assembly (lower house of Congress) debates a bill from the group of centrist deputies, supported by various political forces, aimed at repealing the pension reform.
A favorable vote would only be the start of a parliamentary process, but it would be a blow to Macron.
Source: Ambito
