Royal Paris Visit at Risk Amid Retirement Age Protests
Unions in France have called for more nationwide protests to coincide with the royal visit to the country on Sunday.
Protests in France over a plan to raise the retirement age could derail the King’s first state visit of his reign.
More protests have been called by unions to coincide with the King and Queen Consort’s visit to Paris on Sunday.
According to local reports, President Emmanuel Macron’s banquet at the Palace of Versailles may be moved or even canceled.
The trip’s plans are said to have been put on hold for a few days due to large protests in Paris.
Security concerns may limit the royals’ contact with the public, reducing the impact of the visit.
Despite the protests, French authorities have stated that they are ready to welcome His Majesty.
Gerald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, stated: “We are laser-focused. We are prepared to welcome him in perfect conditions.”
Earlier this week, a Buckingham Palace source stated that the protests could have an impact on the logistics of the visit.
Large amounts of uncollected trash on Parisian streets could be embarrassing for Mr. Macron and city officials.
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The CGT union announced this week that its members at the organization that provides red carpets, furniture, and flags for public buildings would boycott the King’s reception on Sunday.
The president’s office, however, stated that other employees would make the necessary arrangements.
The royals are scheduled to stay in France until March 29, visiting Bordeaux, where the door to the city hall was set on fire during Thursday’s protests.
Mr. Darmanin said on Thursday night that security for the King’s visit would be “no problem” and that he would be “welcomed and welcomed well.”
The unions’ announcement of strike action over the weekend comes on the heels of a record turnout in Paris against the bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
According to authorities, 119,000 people tuned out, making it the largest demonstration in the capital during the current wave of protests.
Although the vast majority of people were peaceful, police used tear gas to disperse rioters who threw fireworks, petrol bombs, and other objects at officers.
Two fast-food restaurants, a supermarket, and a bank were all targeted.
More than a million people are said to have marched across France after Mr. Macron forced the law through without a vote.
Protests in cities such as Lyon, Nantes, and Rennes were also met with violence.
A police station’s courtyard in Lorient, western France, was set on fire, and windows were smashed, as well as an administrative building.
Strikes over pension changes have also hampered travel across the country, with demonstrations blocking train stations, major city roads, ports, and Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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