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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
Paul Myers

Police open probe into death threats against French ministers

Bruno Le Maire is one of two ministers who have received death threats over government pension reforms. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Two bullets were enclosed in one of the letters which demanded the end of President Emmanuel Macron's push for pension reforms.

"You convince Macron that enough is enough. Tell him to call off the reforms otherwise...you're finished," read one of the letters.

Last September, Darmanin received similar threats while Le Maire was sent threatening messages just before the G7 summit in Biarritz last August.

Back on the tracks

Macron swept to power in 2017 on the promise of sweeping reforms for France.

Strikes against his retirement benefits proposals, which began on 5 December, have largely subsided, but not before causing weeks of severe disruptions to public transport around France, in particular to the Paris metro and bus network.

During the Christmas holidays, hundreds of thousands of travellers were affected due to limited or cancelled services.

SNCF, the national train operator, says it faces losses of up to one billion euros due to the strike action.

On 15 January, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted the strikes would not succeed in derailing the government's plans.

"The transport strike against pension reform will go nowhere. The government is determined," said Philippe after emerging from a meeting with key ministers and advisors.

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