Several thousand people demonstrated on Saturday afternoon in the streets of Marseille in the presence of the leader of rebellious France Jean-Luc Mélenchon during a "march of anger" because, from pensions to climate, "everything is linked" for them .
Less than a week after the mobilization of May 1, several unions and left-wing parties called for this new rally intended to ask to "live, work and age with dignity", as indicated by the head banner.
"Today is the manifestation of all the anger because everything is linked, the fight can only be global," explained Anne-Marie Meynard, 68, a former social worker. For example, "if we increased women's salaries, we wouldn't have a problem funding pensions," added the protester.
Another on his sign made the link with the climate: "2 years: old jobs. 2 degrees: everyone under water". Another mocked the news of the day, the coronation of Charles III, brandishing on a piece of cardboard: "Macron, not my king" (Macron is not my king, in English).
"We know that these anger will federate", declared Jean-Luc Mélenchon at the foot of the truck of La France insoumise surrounded by deputies from the department, from Hérault and the European deputy Marina Mesure.
"They can always believe that they will eventually overcome it through fatigue and resignation, they will not succeed," he said, referring to those who govern, adding: "There are cities where we are tired, but not in Marseille".
"Everything is wrong, the anger is very high", rent increases, rental charges, organized gang assassinations in Marseille, pension reform, listed Babette Johsua. "I was lucky enough to leave (retire) at 60 and since then France has not collapsed," she quipped.
On the security situation in Marseille, where the bloody violence linked to drug trafficking has already killed 16 people since the beginning of the year according to an AFP count, Jean-Luc Mélenchon estimated that "Never Marseille nor anyone s 'will get used to this kind of situation'.
Because for him, "the extension of drug trafficking goes hand in hand with the trafficking of arms and human beings" and "it is in this direction that the police and repression must be deployed, not on motorcycles to run after people who demonstrate to demand their right to retirement".
06/05/2023 16:20:14 - Marseille (AFP) © 2023 AFP
