France was paralyzed by a massive strike against pension reform

[Inkriql]

France is on Thursday a day of general strike against the reform of the pension system promoted by President Emmanuel Macron, which affects various services in the country, including trains, airplanes, schools and hospitals.

Around 90% of the high-speed trains that had to circulate this Thursday were canceled, 10 of the 16 subway lines in Paris woke up closed, hundreds of flights were canceled and most of the schools and colleges did not open their doors.

The reform seeks to replace the 42 regimes that currently exist with a points system in which each quoted euro gives the same rights upon reaching retirement, and thus contemplates ending the benefits of those who enjoy workers such as those of the SNCF or the Parisian metropolitan transport network.

To avoid transport chaos, many French chose to work from their homes. "I asked to work from home today, but I hope that the strike will not last long because I will not be able to do it indefinitely," Diana Silavong, an executive at a pharmaceutical company, told AFP.

Many others walked very early from their homes to their workplaces.

"I wanted to take a bicycle but I think everyone had the same idea!" Guillaume laughs in front of a completely empty free-service bicycle station in Paris. "I will have to go to the office on foot," he adds resigned this thirties.

Chaos and misinformation also reigned among tourists, many of whom were surprised to see the underground doors closed. "Yesterday we bought tickets and today there is no one to inform us," said Pedro Marques and Ana Sampaio, a couple of Portuguese who intended to go to visit Montmartre.

Nor can they visit the Eiffel Tower, one of the most po[CENSORED]r monuments in Paris, which will remain closed on Thursday because there is not enough staff present to "open in optimal conditions of security and welcome to the public."

Versailles Castle, on the outskirts of Paris, advised tourists to "postpone" visits on Thursday and Friday.

It was also almost impossible mission to reach Charles de Gaulle airport, northeast of Paris, because the train line connecting Paris to the terminals worked partially and only at peak times.

"There is no way to get there, we are going to have to take a taxi!", Says annoyed David, a Madrid tourist who crosses his fingers so that his flight has not been canceled.

Indeed, the stoppage of part of the air traffic controllers forced the national company Air France to cancel 30% of its domestic flights and 15% of its European flights. All long-haul flights will be maintained.

The British low-cost airline EasyJet canceled 223 domestic and international short-haul flights and warned that other flights may be delayed.