In the rain and in the face of a large police force, they are there. A few dozen demonstrators were gathered this Friday in Dunkirk, in the North, at the call of the Dunkirk interunion, to demonstrate against the visit planned in the afternoon of President Emmanuel Macron.

Barriers were erected all around the sub-prefecture in front of which the demonstrators, including some "yellow vests" and union activists CGT and CFDT, drummed on pots and pans and honked their horns, an AFP journalist found.

"We are still against the pension reform"

Hundreds of police officers are mobilized to secure the visit of the head of state, said the DDSP to AFP. Emmanuel Macron, who will be accompanied by several ministers, comes to Dunkirk to illustrate his strategy of "reindustrialization" of the France.



In particular, he must mention the establishment in the city of a battery factory for electric vehicles, the fourth in Hauts-de-France, confirmed overnight by the Taiwanese group ProLogium, for an entry into production from the end of 2026. The plant is expected to generate 3,000 direct jobs.

"We are still against the pension reform," said Richard Lorang, CGT general secretary of the Zuydcoote Maritime Hospital. Emmanuel Macron comes today to announce jobs, but also public money for private companies as part of decarbonization. Besides that, we have our public services that are dying. »

"lndividualism" and "announcement effects"

Valérie Minet, a "yellow vest" who is soon to be tried for calling Emmanuel Macron "garbage" on Facebook, vigorously tapped a plate, criticizing the "individualism" and "announcement effects" of the president's policy. "There are many companies that come to set up in France and take advantage of the land made available to them, financial aid. And when they have made enough profits to distribute to shareholders, they leave," she said.

A second rally against Emmanuel Macron's visit is scheduled for 15 p.m. in the center of Dunkirk.

  • Dunkirk
  • North
  • Hauts-de-France
  • Nord-Pas-de-Calais
  • President
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Trade union
  • Events
  • Industry
  • Visit
  • Lille
  • Politics
  • Pension reform 2023