Have a Trip to Paris Planned? What to Know About Ongoing Protests

In various regions of the nation, anger ignited on Tuesday, June 27th, following the fatal shooting of Nahel, a 17-year-old delivery driver of North African heritage, by a law enforcement officer. A new surge of demonstrations occurred across France towards the end of June and the beginning of July.

The violence that appeared to be abating this week was reported by AP, with more than 3,400 arrests and six nights of unrest. Riots broke out in dozens of cities throughout France, killing in the following days. The AP reported incidents of looting, clashes, and arson.

“In the latest update from Crisis24, a crisis management and security risk firm, it is noted that incidents of violence and protests have significantly reduced since the killing of a teenager in a police-involved incident on June 27. Authorities in Paris and other urban centers reported a relatively calm overnight period on July 3-4, with 4 and 5 reductions in injuries, arrests, and announced police.

According to Crisis24, various political organizations have called for additional marches on July 8. The firm mentioned that these demonstrations are expected to attract thousands of participants. The specific details regarding the locations and timings of these events are still unknown. The firm also stated that tensions are likely to remain high nationwide as authorities prepare for potential rioting in the upcoming days.

In the recent past, protests have become less vocal, with the numbers decreasing from large gatherings of tens of thousands to smaller groups of a few hundred individuals. The retirement age in France, previously set at 62, has been raised to 64 through President Emmanuel Macron’s newly implemented pension scheme, which was officially approved on April 14. These demonstrators have been expressing their opposition towards this policy. The latest wave of unrest follows a series of protests that have been occurring in Paris and across France since the beginning of this year.

The garbage collectors’ strike, which had been going on since early April and finally ended in late March, resulted in the removal of the heaping piles of garbage from the streets of Paris. The strike was in response to the newly proposed retirement age increase, from 57 to 59.

Another cycle of escalations could once again disturb services like public transit.

The U.S. Embassy in Paris has issued a “security alert,” cautioning about ongoing protests in and around the Paris region and other major cities in France, subsequent to the police shooting that occurred on June 27 in the suburb of Nanterre.

The U.S. Embassy advises that U.S. Citizens should steer clear of areas with high police presence and large gatherings, as clashes have the potential to escalate into violence. These demonstrations, along with spontaneous protests, are likely to persist and may become violent.

The embassy also reports that in some cities in France, the police have increased their monitoring and activity to avoid demonstrations, and advises U.S. Citizens to stay up to date with the latest news on protests as the locations are often not known in advance. This information is provided by local media outlets in France, including RFI and 24, both French-language and English.

The U.S. Embassy attributes terrorism and social turmoil as the causes. As of July 6, 2023, the France Travel Advisory from the U.S. State Department remains unaltered at Level 2 (which advises travelers to remain cautious).

What should you do if you’re in France and the Department of State recommends that U.S. Citizens avoid areas around violent demonstrations that have turned violent in the past? Travel plans can also be disrupted by strikes. In case of violence or property damage, French authorities may use water cannons and chemical agents to disperse crowds.

For further help, get in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Paris at +33 (1) 43 12 22 22 or CitizenInfo@state.Gov.

Are flights to France, transportation services, and other enterprises impacted by the demonstrations?

Following the latest unrest, public transportation services in several major cities remain disrupted, with the rail and tram systems being limited or suspended, according to Crisis24 reports. Therefore, before making any travel plans using public transit, it is advisable to check the latest updates. The RATP, the transport operator in the Paris region, has temporarily suspended some train lines, RER and metro services, as well as tram and bus operations at times.

As a result, the French Civil Aviation Authority asked all airlines to reduce their flight schedules from and to Paris Orly airport and several other French airports on May 1 and May 2. This request was made due to the recent planned strikes, most of which involved air traffic controllers who were protesting against pension reforms and were on strike, causing disruptions to their job duties.

According to Air France, travelers had the choice to select either a credit for a future flight or a complete reimbursement in case their flight was canceled due to strike-related events. Air France operated around 70 percent of flights connecting Paris-Orly and other airports in France, all flights to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, as well as all of its long-distance flights during the strike.

“During strike actions, Air France stated that it is possible for last-minute delays and cancellations to occur.”

Another episode of air traffic controller strikes has not yet been announced or scheduled but should not be dismissed by travelers.

In addition to worker strikes, ongoing protests in France can create potential travel delays and interruptions, including congestion and traffic between downtown Paris and the main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, as well as major cities around. These protests can also affect public transportation systems and other services.

Advises.

Despite the closure of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, both of which have temporarily shut down operations and altered their opening hours due to ongoing protests, other major attractions and museums like Sacré Coeur will remain open to visitors during their regular operating hours. This information has been reported by the press.

How is the current ground condition in Paris?

There are additional planned demonstrations or strikes announced in areas that they avoid, and if and when they occur, I would recommend keeping up with the news about it, says Lindsey Tramuta, a frequent contributor and freelance writer based in Paris for AFAR. As a tourist, I didn’t notice anything noticeable in Paris, but on Friday evening after I left, apparently they cleared Place de la Concorde and boarded up a few shops on the Champs-Elysées. I saw nothing there. According to Lyndsey Matthews, senior commerce editor at AFAR, who was in Paris at the height of the latest round of uprisings in early July following the killing of the police, the riots have definitely died down.

What is the cause behind the protests in Paris in 2023?

CNN reported that the occurrence, which was recorded on video, took place in the outskirts of Paris called Nanterre, where Nahel, a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, was shot by law enforcement. The recent turmoil in Paris and across France ensued after this incident. The resulting rebellions led President Macron to prohibit large gatherings in France due to the persistently intense atmosphere, causing worries and anger regarding the persistent problems of racism and poverty in the nation.

The French people were opposed to President Macron’s fuel tax hike and the government’s economic policies, which led to continued protests in early 2019 and late 2018. These protests, known as the Yellow Vests Movement, gained significant momentum and represented the most significant demonstrations throughout France, especially in Paris, in the months following the pension protests.

According to the most recent data available from the OECD, the average global retirement age for women was 63.4 and for men was 64.2. In order to have access to a full pension, citizens must have worked for at least 43 years, and the Nationale Assemblée, without a vote, pushes back the retirement age to 64 for most workers by passing a bill under Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which was implemented by President Macron’s government. French citizens will once again be fed up with this by 2023.

According to the Associated Press, President Macron stated, “Individuals are aware that indeed, on average, they must work a bit more . . . Since otherwise we will not be able to adequately fund our retirements,” while elucidating the rationale behind the fresh approach.

Retiring at a relatively young age, despite having to pay high taxes and work hard, society has made a choice to maintain a high living standard. The French fiercely protect their generous pensions and universal healthcare, as noted by Lisa Bryant of NPR’s Morning Edition.

And now, the citizens of France are once again protesting against police violence and discrimination towards marginalized communities.