French Workers Stage Mass Strike Over Macron’s Pension Plan
Public transportation services were disrupted (FT) and many schools were expected to close as workers across France went on strike today to oppose President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the country’s retirement age from sixty-two to sixty-four. Macron is pushing for lawmakers to approve the plan by the end of March. Its passage seems likely given support by the Republicans, a conservative party.
However, 61 percent of people surveyed by Ipsos oppose the reform. Macron tried to reduce spending in France’s pension system during his first term but was met with protests in the winter of 2019–2020. He shelved the plan (France 24) due to COVID-19.
Analysis
“It remains to be seen whether France’s poorly unionized workforce—struggling with inflation, soaring energy bills and the aftermath of COVID-19—will stay the course for a sustained campaign of disruption,” Politico’s Paul Taylor writes.
“As is the case for [Republicans] and [other lawmakers], public opinion and the course of the strikes will determine the behaviour of those in Macron’s party,” the University of Nottingham’s Paul Smith tells France 24.
Pacific Rim
New Zealand’s Ardern Announces Resignation
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she no longer had “enough left in the tank” to do the role justice and that she will step down (NZ Herald) by February 7. Her resignation comes ahead of general elections in October. Her party will vote on a caretaker prime minister on Sunday.
Kazakh President Calls Early Parliamentary Elections
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dissolved the lower house of Parliament (RFE/RL) and announced that elections will occur on March 19. Tokayev consolidated power in November’s snap presidential election.
India/Sri Lanka: India sent its foreign minister (Reuters) to Sri Lanka after publicly supporting the country’s bid for a $2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. China is now Sri Lanka’s only remaining major creditor that has yet to back the country’s debt restructuring plan.
Middle East and North Africa
Israeli High Court Rules Netanyahu Minister Is Unfit for Office
The court ruled that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must dismiss (Haaretz) new Health and Interior Minister Aryeh Machluf Deri due to Deri’s previous criminal convictions.
Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi is facing renewed criticism after gas shortages in the country’s north left tens of thousands of Iranians unable to heat their homes, Bloomberg reported.
Sub-Saharan Africa
UN Rights Investigator Calls for Full Access to Alleged Crime Scenes in Ethiopia
A UN-backed panel is probing potential atrocities committed in Ethiopia’s two-year conflict, but a senior panel member said its investigators have been denied access (Bloomberg) from some sites.
Senegal: Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko will face trial (Reuters) on charges of raping and threatening a beauty salon worker. Sonko plans to run in Senegal’s 2024 presidential election and has criticized the charges as politically motivated.
Europe
NYT: White House Weighs Sending Ukraine Weapons to Strike Russian Forces in Crimea
The Joe Biden administration has for months denied Ukraine’s requests for the weapons over concerns about escalating the war with Russia, but it has warmed to the possibility as a means of strengthening Ukraine’s position, unnamed U.S. officials told the New York Times. Publicly, officials said there is no change in the administration’s position.
Chile Rejects $2.5 Billion Mining Project Over Environmental Concerns
A federal government panel ruled that the proposed mine’s plans to mitigate damage to a nearby nature reserve would be insufficient (The Guardian) for preserving biodiversity. The project failed an environmental assessment in 2017, leading three ministers to resign.
Canada: Health officials revised guidelines on alcohol consumption, saying that no amount is safe (CBC) and recommending no more than two drinks per week.
United States
U.S. Expected to Hit Debt Ceiling Today
Reaching the congressionally imposed borrowing limit will require the Treasury Department to employ so-called extraordinary maneuvers to ensure the government continues paying its bills. Republicans in the House of Representatives have said they will not back (NYT) an increase in the debt limit unless Biden agrees to spending cuts.
