France: Parisians react to nationwide shutdown against pension reforms

W/S Paris-Montparnasse train station
W/S Paris-Montparnasse train station
W/S Paris-Montparnasse train station
M/S People on cycle and scooter
W/S People on cycles with security force vehicles in background
SOT, Paris resident (French): "For the moment, I have not had enough yet, but I think that maybe in a few days, I will change my mind about the Prime Minister or the strikers, I do not know yet."
M/S Police walking outside Paris-Montparnasse train station *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Paris resident (French): "I'm not against the government, I think that Macron in the situation where we are is at the end the best we could have, because first he saved us from four years of Le Pen. I still prefer Macron to Marine Le Pen and anyway he is the only politician competent that one could have, the proof is that he gets along very well with Merkel."
C/U Newspaper cover *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Paris resident (French): "In the immediate future, I have nothing to claim but I think it's perfectly legitimate for the people or workers to express themselves in relation to what is wrong."
W/S Outside Paris-Montparnasse
SCRIPT
Parisians had mixed feelings about the open-ended nationwide strike of workers protesting against proposed pension reforms which kicked off in Paris on Thursday morning. Several people were seen cycling to work as metro stations remained closed and trains halted.
"I have nothing to claim but I think it's perfectly legitimate for the people or workers to express themselves in relation to what is wrong," said one Parisian.
Another local showed support to French President Emmanuel Macron saying, "I'm not against the government, I think that Macron in the situation where we are, is in the end the best we could have, because first he saved us from four years of Le Pen. I still prefer Macron to Marine Le Pen and anyway he is the only politician competent that one could have."
"I have not had enough yet, but I think that maybe in a few days, I will change my mind about the Prime Minister or the strikers, I do not know yet," stated another local resident.
Airport workers, public transport workers, teachers, lawyers and police are amongst the diverse group of workers expected to join the strike. It is a response to Macron's government seeking to merge France's 42 different pension systems into a single, universal points-based system.