The strike was initiated and organized by eight major trade unions in France. According to statistics, there were more than 200 demonstrations in various parts of France that day, with nearly 2.5 million people participating, especially in some small and medium-sized cities, and almost half of the population participated in the demonstrations. The population of Clermont-ferrand, where Michelin Tire Company is headquartered, is only 6.5438+0.3 million, and the number of people attending the parade on the 29th reached about 60,000.
Participants in this strike came from all walks of life, such as posts and telecommunications, schools and hospitals, transportation, energy and electricity, banking courts, museums and theaters, and even employees of private enterprises who rarely go to the streets in peacetime joined the parade. In addition, there are many retirees and young students walking together in the team, playing various slogans to protest against the government.
Why is there such a large-scale strike in France? Public opinion here generally believes that the financial crisis has led to the deterioration of the social and economic environment in France, increased pressure on work and life, intensified psychological panic and spread pessimism. The deeper reason is that the "broken" reform policy vigorously promoted by Sarkozy since he took office has made many people feel uncomfortable and dissatisfied.
65438129 October, demonstrators held a protest in the French city of Lyon. On the same day, major trade unions in France jointly organized strikes, demonstrations and other activities nationwide to protest the economic policies pursued by the government in the context of the current economic crisis. There were nearly 200 demonstrations across France, with 2.5 million people participating. Xinhua News Agency/Reuters
From a realistic point of view, the financial crisis has indeed had a great impact on the French real economy, and many enterprises have laid off employees or even closed down. By the end of June last year, the number of unemployed people in France had reached 2.068 million. According to the economic forecast report released by the European Commission in the middle of this month, the French economy will obviously decline in 2009, with the economic growth rate of-1.8% and the unemployment rate climbing to 9.8%. However, the French government's stimulus plan seems to be only biased towards saving banks and automobile manufacturing, while the purchasing power and employment issues related to people's livelihood are put aside. Benoit Ajder, a French sociologist, said that the income and quality of life of the middle class, which was most affected by the economic crisis, were declining, and even changed from managers to unemployed overnight.
On the other hand, the new reform policy since Sarkozy took office has not let people see hope, but attempted to disintegrate the national high welfare system and deprive people of vested interests. Such as relaxing the 35-hour working day, increasing the proportion of self-funded medical care, laying off a large number of staff in public departments and schools, reforming the special retirement system, canceling advertisements on public television stations, and introducing judicial reform, all caused boycotts and even demonstrations. Analysts said that the French people have been tired and disappointed with Sarkozy's hasty and comprehensive implementation of reforms, and an "anti-Sarkozy" sentiment in capital stocks has been growing.
Millions of French people vented their dissatisfaction in the wave of strikes, and the French government could not be indifferent. In order to reassure people, Sarkozy said on the same day that the people's "anxiety is reasonable" and he was willing to "listen and talk", but he never said that he would make concessions on the reform issue. He also said before, "I understand your difficulties, but we should not stop the reform." On the day after the strike, the Presidential Palace revealed to the media that Sarkozy will deliver a televised speech on the economic crisis and the government's response measures on the 5th. It is possible to meet with trade union representatives in the middle of this month to discuss the economic stimulus plan and the reform policies to be implemented in 2009, which have been scheduled by both sides, not because of the strike.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fillon will also convene 23 ministers and state secretaries on the 2nd to discuss the economic stimulus plan formulated in February last year. De Wei Jian, the newly appointed Minister of Economic Revitalization, said that 1 000 projects mentioned in the plan will be launched in the near future, mainly focusing on infrastructure construction, industries that improve the competitiveness of enterprises and industries that want to invest to create jobs.
Although the trade union expressed its willingness to sit down and talk to the government, Thibaugh, the national secretary general of the French Federation of Trade Unions, said that if the government still has no substantive suggestions and practical actions, the trade union will not rule out holding another national strike. Analysts believe that in the current economic downturn and rising public grievances, if the government does not take decisive and effective measures to communicate with the people, the strike may further spread and even evolve into violent riots among Greek youth some time ago. (Reporter Li Yan in France)