Charles III’s trip to France canceled due to mass protests

The visit of King Charles III of Great Britain to France, scheduled from March 26 to 29, will not take place, the trip was postponed amid mass protests in France. About it informs press service of the Elysee Palace.

This decision was made by the French and British governments after a telephone conversation between the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron and the British king. The date of the postponement of the trip of Charles III is not specified. The Elysee Palace only noted that the visit would take place “in the near future.”

In early March, the Elysee Palace announced the visit of Charles III to France from 26 to 29 March. It was noted that this would be his first trip to the Republic as King of Great Britain.

Protests in France began in January against the backdrop of the government’s push for pension reform. 22 March Macron expressed confidence in the government of Elizabeth Born, who approved on March 16, bypassing the lower house of parliament, a bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

The next day, actions that turned into riots took place throughout the country. In them accepted participation, according to police estimates, over 1 million citizens. In the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic reportedthat 149 policemen and gendarmes were injured as a result. According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, the protesters threw cobblestones and Molotov cocktails at the police. The French trade unions announced the next general protest action on March 28.

The pension reform, which Macron insists on, involves a gradual increase in the retirement age from September 1, 2023 by three months a year. It is planned to bring it up to 64 years by 2030. The French authorities explained the need for reforms by reducing the number of actively working taxpayers providing for pensioners, and by increasing the budget deficit.