There are “more people” in the streets, Laurent Berger, leader of the main union, CFDT, said at the start of the march in Paris. The CGT central announced half a million demonstrators in the capital. Twelve days ago, he estimated 400,000 (80,000, according to the government).
Police project 1.2 million protesters at most in France. Pending the data from Paris, the first official figures point to a slightly rising turnout: 40,000 in Marseille, 28,000 in Nantes, 23,000 in Rennes, etc.
In contrast, public workers on strike were fewer in education — one in four teachers, according to the government; double for the unions—, as well as in the railway company SNCF (36.5%), according to a union source.
The spearhead came this time from the energy sector. Nuclear power plants registered a drop in production of about 3,000 MWh, according to the EDF company. And between 75% and 100% of the personnel at the refineries and TotalEnergies warehouses joined the strike, according to the CGT.
TotalEnergies stated that 55% of morning shift workers at its refineries left their tools behind, down from January 19.
Polls show a substantial majority of the French oppose the reform, but Macron intends to stand his ground. The reform is “vital” to guarantee the viability of the pension system, he said on Monday.