France, with no way out of the crisis: the dialogue with the unions failed and huge marches are expected on Thursday

The French unions that oppose the pension reform and will march for the eleventh time in Paris met this Wednesday with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, in the

.

Businessmen and politicians also participated in the dialogue meetings while President Emmanuel Macron traveled to China.

For the first time, one of the leaders of the inter-union was a woman.

Sophie Binet, from the CGT, replaced Philippe Martinez and was joined by Laurent Berger, from the CFDT, the first French labor union.

"We demand together that the age of 64 not be applied," said Laurent Berger (CFDT), who has not spoken since the days of Francois Hollande with Emmanuel Macron.

Sophie Binet, from the CGT, speaks to the media.

Photo: EFE

"We asked for the withdrawal of the reform and the answer (from the prime minister)

," she informed, as was to be expected, after the meeting in Matignon.

"We are experiencing a serious democratic crisis" but "we appeal to the wisdom of the Constitutional Council, which we respect and do not put pressure on," said Laurent Berger.

"I call on as many French people as possible to join the processions throughout France tomorrow (for this Thursday)

," concluded Laurent Berger.

Thursday's March

The government

.

He is a moderate trade unionist, social democrat, persuasive and respected by his bases.

All the ministers, especially that of labor and the prime minister, seek a reconciliation between President Macron and Berger.

He leads the negotiations and approves the mobilizations.

a

show of force and throughout the country, with major disruptions to transport.

Laurent Berger, from the CFDT, the first French labor union.

Photo: EFE

The Constitutional Council, which functions as a Supreme Court in France and is chaired by former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, is due to rule on April 14 and can declare the reform completely or partially illegal.

"A Useless Meeting"

Sophie Binet, a philosopher and the new general secretary of the CGT, described it as a "useless meeting" and a "obtuse and disconnected" government.

"We cannot move forward until the pension reform is withdrawn," he said.

He added that the Intersindical would be "united to the end."

Laurent Berger, on behalf of the Intersindical, “ended the meeting”.

"Neither decline, nor weakening, nor of the Intersindical nor of the mobilization", was the message that Frédéric Souillot, of Force Ouvrière, when it was his turn to speak in Elisabeth Borne's office.

"We ended this meeting when the Prime Minister explained to us that

" said the leader of Fuerza Obrera.

Sophie Binet (CGT) also said that the meeting was interrupted after 55 minutes, at the initiative of Laurent Berger for the Intersindical.

Prime Minister Borne explained that she would not withdraw the reform.

Photo: Bertrand Guay / AFP

“We reiterate how your reform was as unfair as it was brutal,” said Cyril Chabanier (CFTC) after meeting Elisabeth Borne.

"We once again request the pure and simple withdrawal of this text" and

on the age of the postponement, he continued..

Eight unions unite in the inter-union movement against the pension reform.

Their representatives, received by Elisabeth Borne, were Sophie Binet, Berger, Frederic Souillot (FO), Francois Hommeril (CFE-CGC), Cyril Chabanier (CFTC), Laurent Escure (National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions - UNSA), Benoit Teste (FSU ), Murielle Guilbert and Simon Duteil (Solidarity Union).

born, disagree

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne evoked "a respectful exchange, in which everyone was able to listen and express themselves" with the Intersindical”.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne evoked "a respectful exchange, in which everyone was able to listen and express themselves."

Photo: Bertrand Guay / AFP

"I heard your disagreement about raising the age" and "our disagreements about age

" shared concerns about "long careers, hardship, burnout, 'senior employment.' social interlocutors. I told them my availability and that of my government" to deal with all these issues," he concluded.

The head of government was surrounded by Olivier Dussopt and Stanislas Guerini, and showed a big smile.

On Tuesday, the socialist leader Olivier Faure (PS) and the environmentalist Marine Tondelier (EELV) also went to Matignon and reiterated their request to withdraw the reform.

The leader of the rebellious France, Jean Luc Mélenchon, who did not accept the meeting in Matignon, transmitted via Twitter

that does not give up".

The first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, believes that the government “

He does not respect the unions, nor the Parliament, nor the French, ”he wrote on Twitter, calling for more people to mobilize throughout the country this Thursday.

Paris, correspondent

ap​

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