The students of the prestigious Henri-IV high school in Paris intend to show their opposition to the method used by the government to pass the pension reform. They mobilized for the first time this Friday.
A row of garbage cans erected as a barricade blocked, Friday, March 17 in the morning, the main entrance to the Parisian high school Henri-IV, one of the most prestigious public establishments in France. Perched above, the students dance, sing revolutionary slogans. It is the first time that they are mobilised. Their anger is fueled by the use of 49.3 by the government to pass the text on pension reform. “I found it completely absurd, says Tara, high school student, and absolutely not democratic, because the government has not heard the voice of the French. But the fight continues. We are very determined to make our voice heard and to make the voice of all young people heard. Because we will be concerned later.”
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As in about fifty faculties or schools in France, high school students react by blocking movements or occupying premises. Mobilize all the youth, it is in this way that these students at Henry-IV hope to make the government bend. Some students from the Sorbonne have also joined the mobilization. “We need to be there in support of all those who are blocking and who are mobilizing against the pension reform, confirms Romain, a student in geography. “It’s important to be united and to help each other as soon as we can.”
“The use of 49.3 knocked us out a bit and took us by surprise. Now we have to mobilize, put pressure on the government and on the president to have the bill withdrawn.”
Romain studying for a bachelor’s degree in geographyat franceinfo
This student support gives hope to first-grade student Razi: “It’s good that we have solidarity between students and high school students, it’s nice, it shows that we are not alone. It also encourages us to continue to make it clear, with a little luck, to the government that the population is against his reform.” With a bit of luck, says Razi because the question that arises now is to hold out over time. Not that easy. “We hope to be able to redo blockades, but I think it’s not very realistic, recognizes Nae. It really takes a lot of effort and people are too eager to work, unfortunately! But already, just the fact that it happened once shows that even we are fed up!
These high school students do not call for the blocking of the Parisian establishment on Monday for the start of the baccalaureate specialty tests. They count on the mobilization of workers, on strikes and demonstrations. The next inter-union mobilization will be held on Thursday March 23. In the meantime, they can also count on the support of motorists passing in front of their school.
Opposed to the use of 49.3 in the pension reform, students block the main entrance to the Lycée Henri IV – the report by Louise Buyens
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