





French protesters vow to disrupt King Charles's state visit next week
French protesters, trade unionists and politicians today vowed to disrupt King Charles's state visit to Paris and Bordeaux with strikes and protests next week.
They are furious that the British monarch and the Queen Consort will be in the republic during a period of intense social turmoil caused by President Emmanuel Macron raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote.
Planned demonstrations against the British royals already include drivers refusing to operate a tram they were set to use during their visit.
Protesters said they would target a banquet at Versailles, and also a trip to the south-west city of Bordeaux, during the state visit, set to run from Sunday (March 26) to Wednesday (March 29).
Referring to Charles, Left-wing firebrand Olivier Besancenot said: 'We are going to welcome him with a good old general strike.' The former presidential candidate added: 'We are engaged in a battle, there will be a winner and a loser.'
Charles and Camilla are due to arrive at Saint-Jean station in Bordeaux at 12pm on Tuesday (March 28), before taking a tram into the city centre, but this mode of transport now looks likely to be abandoned.
