Taxis Activation: Suspension of Barrier in Pau, Anticipating Taxis Resumption of Services
Taxis Take to the Streets in Pau, France, for Final Protest Over Transport Reforms
Taxi drivers in Pau, a city in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques region and stronghold of Prime Minister François Bayrou, held their last demonstration on Saturday, May 31, against proposed transportation reforms. The standoff, which began mid-May with a blockade outside the city's train station, is expected to continue for a while longer. Around 80 taxis, according to union reports, and approximately 50, according to the prefecture, participated in the Saturday afternoon parade through the city's streets.
As they marched, drivers expressed their intention to move their protests to larger cities in the near future. Damien Bretin, a taxi driver from Charente and departmental president of the National Federation of Independent Taxis, told AFP, "We're leaving Pau. The mobilization will be in other big cities." On Saturday evening, protesters plan to lift the rally and blockade point set up since May 19 outside the city's station. Jean-Marie Tourré, president of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques taxi union, stated, "We'll have a final meal and stop the movement."
The controversial reforms involve changes to France’s medical transport reimbursement system, a substantial part of many drivers’ income, particularly in rural areas. The new pricing system, effective from October 1, includes a 13 euro reimbursement by Social Security followed by a kilometer rate. New meetings with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport are scheduled for next week, as the taxi drivers vow to continue their actions.
Taxi drivers in major cities like Paris have already implemented their own ongoing protests. Rachid Boudjema, from the National Union of Taxis, reported that the protest point on the Boulevard Raspail in Paris was "maintained" on Saturday with "very few cars." However, starting from Sunday evening, the demonstrations are set to resume.
The French government is under pressure to address the taxi drivers' concerns over income loss and balance these needs with broader transport policy goals. While the prime minister has acknowledged the situation, the government has yet to release a definitive response to the ongoing protests.
Taxi drivers, following their protests in Pau, plan to expand their campaign to other larger cities in France, aiming to confront the financial implications of the proposed transportation reforms on their income, particularly in the sports and entertainment industry where timely transportation is crucial. Simultaneously, the government is under pressure to balance these specific industry concerns with broader transport policies and finance considerations, anticipating negotiations with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport next week.
