As I speak, spontaneous gatherings are taking place all over France. As you know, we are living through a historic political day. So, what happened? In particular since March 7, an incredibly intense mobilization — the likes of which we haven’t seen in fifty years — has been taking place across the country. It has continued day by day, at the call of the trade union organizations, through rolling strike movements in almost all regions and all professions.

We see people getting together to fight in the most effective way against the pension reform that forces them to work two years longer, when there is no budgetary reason to take such a decision. There is no deficit, and there won’t be one. Millions of people understand this and don’t see why they should make the sacrifice of two extra years of work given to society. And they are right.

Because this mobilization has taken place, because it has gradually spread, it has challenged all political organizations — including the ones most distant from it, or those ready to accept the idea that this retirement at the age of sixty-four should go ahead. I’m thinking of certain organizations on the traditional right. This work was done by millions of people, willing to make the sacrifice of the days that will go unpaid in all those jobs — oil refiners, garbage collectors, energy workers, and all the others you’ll excuse me for overlooking. I am thinking of all those who have entered the struggle; it is thanks to them that we’ve have arrived at this point.