French trade union calls for protests to force rethink of budget plan

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - The secretary general of the French trade union CGT on Wednesday called for a day of mobilization on Dec. 2 to push the government into revising its budget plans.

Stressing that the current budget contains “a series of horrors," Sophie Binet, speaking to BFMTV, urged people to "protest and strike on December 2."

"We’ll be in the decisive phase of the budget debate. It’s crucial that workers take part so that the discussion happens under the pressure of mobilization -- to make sure we can bury all the disasters contained in this budget,” she explained.

Binet said the budget risks increasing health costs, cutting 4,500 education jobs and reducing family allowances.

"We have invited all unions to take part (in the mobilization). Some have already agreed and will be there -- namely the FSU and Solidaires. Others haven’t joined for now, but the door remains open,” she added.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly entered its final day of debates on the Social Security Financing Bill, handing over the floor to the Senate to debate the budget.

Lawmakers will specifically debate the contested suspension of the pension reform, sought to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, triggering one of the longest strike waves in decades.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu proposed suspending the reform on Oct. 14 until the next presidential election, pledging no increase in the retirement age before January 2028 -- responding to a key demand from the opposition left and avoiding censure from the Socialist Party.