Europe 1 with AFP 16:06 p.m., March 23, 2023

Communist leader Fabien Roussel called on Thursday, during the Paris demonstration against the pension reform, to "do everything to block the work tool" and "bring the country to a standstill". "We call for the movement to continue and be amplified, in a peaceful and non-violent manner," he added.

Communist leader Fabien Roussel called on Thursday, during the Paris demonstration against the pension reform, to "do everything to block the work tool" and "bring the country to a standstill". "I call on the French, the communist militants wherever they are, in their companies, in their workplaces, to participate in renewable strikes, to do everything to block the work tool, to make sure to bring the country to a standstill, including to participate in the blocking of traffic lanes," he told reporters.

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'Do everything to isolate the government'

"We call to continue the movement and to amplify it, in a peaceful and non-violent way," he added, believing that it was necessary to "go and hit the economy". "We will play our full part in this fight." The national secretary of the PCF wants to "do everything to isolate the government. Either he withdraws his reform or he resigns." He also stressed that deputies could not "resume (their) work in the National Assembly as if nothing had happened. (...) We are asking ourselves the question of continuing the debates in parliament."

For him, "the President of the Republic behaves in the Republic like a thug". "Unfortunately, and for the moment he is betting on violence, chaos. In a few days we have gone (...) from the debate on pensions to violence, from peaceful demonstrations with truncheons, mobilizations in companies with broken mouths," he said.