12th Day Of Nationwide Strikes Underway Against Pension Reforms

The twelfth day of nationwide strikes and protests aimed at forcing the gov't to U-turn on controversial pension reforms are underway. Earlier this morning protesters blocked the Rue de Montpensier in Paris, the access route to the Constitutional Council. Tomorrow (14 April) the Council is set to deliver a ruling on whether President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms - forced through parliament without a vote in the National Assembly - should be accepted, modified, or rejected. The acceptance of the reforms could spark further protests, while their rejection would come as a severe blow to the gov't.

• According to AFP "Police expect around 400,000-600,000 people to take part in demos around the country, less than half of the peak of nearly 1.3 million reached in March..."
• According to Connexion France strikes will see SNCF-operated railways disrupted today, as well as flight cancellations at regional airports, some cross-Channel ferries cancelled, and refuse collectors in Paris resume a rolling strike.
• Strikes at French refineries have come to an end, with Connexion France reporting that "Around 11.5% of fuel stations are reported to not have either petrol or diesel, down from around 15% at the end of March, but this number is expected to decrease after Easter travel placed a temporary strain on services."