WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFORM PLAN, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND TRADE UNIONS HAS INTENSIFIED. THE UNION CLAIMED ON THE 12TH THAT THE GENERAL STRIKE WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL CHRISTMAS. THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE GENERAL STRIKE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY APPARENT.THE FRENCH GENERAL UNION STATED ON THE SAME DAY THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ABANDON THE REFORM OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, STRIKES WILL NOT STOP DURING THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD, AND THE NORMAL OPERATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AT THAT TIME. THE FRENCH WORKERS' DEMOCRATIC UNION AND OTHER TRADE UNION ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE GENERAL STRIKE, BUT ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT CRITICIZED THE UNION'S INTENTION TO CONTINUE THE LARGE-SCALE STRIKE DURING CHRISTMAS, CALLING IT "IRRESPONSIBLE" TO OBSTRUCT TRANSPORTATION; FRENCH PRIME MINISTER PHILIPPE REITERATED HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH TRADE UNIONS, BUT REFORMS WILL CONTINUE.ON THE 12TH, SEVERAL PLACES IN FRANCE EXPERIENCED PROTESTS AIMED AT OPPOSING THE GOVERNMENT'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFORM PLAN. AT THE PROTEST SITE IN PARIS, THE REPORTER SAW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHING FOR 3 HOURS IN THE CITY CENTER, SHOUTING SLOGANS AND DEMANDING THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF RETIREES IN THE COLD WIND AND FREEZING RAIN.THE PROTESTS IN PARIS WERE GENERALLY PEACEFUL, AND THE POLICE BLOCKED THE ROADS NEAR THE PROTEST AREA, PROHIBITING VEHICLES FROM PASSING THROUGH. MANY SHOPS ALONG THE WAY WERE CLOSED, AND THE STREETS APPEARED MUCH QUIETER. THERE WERE CLASHES DURING PROTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER PLACES, AND THE POLICE USED TEAR GAS. AS OF PRESS TIME, THE OFFICIAL HAS NOT YET ANNOUNCED THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE PARADE AND DEMONSTRATION ON THAT DAY.ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY FRENCH MEDIA, FRENCH PRIME MINISTER PHILIPPE OUTLINED THE KEY POINTS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFORM ON THE 11TH, ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO ALLEVIATE DOUBTS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF SOCIETY AND EASE CONFLICTS WITH TRADE UNIONS. HOWEVER, THINGS DID NOT GO AS PLANNED, AND THE MAJOR TRADE UNIONS IN FRANCE DID NOT BUY IT. SOME UNION MEMBERS BELIEVE THAT THE ESSENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFORM IS STILL TO DELAY THE RETIREMENT AGE.THE GENERAL STRIKE HAS ENTERED ITS EIGHTH DAY AND THERE IS STILL NO POSSIBILITY OF IT ENDING. ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY APPARENT, AND THE WORK AND LIFE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED TO THE PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY INCREASING.THE CHAOTIC TRAFFIC SITUATION IN FRANCE CONTINUED TO INTENSIFY ON THE 12TH. DUE TO RAINFALL, THE LENGTH OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE GREATER PARIS AREA DURING THE EVENING RUSH HOUR REACHED 545 KILOMETERS, ONCE AGAIN BREAKING THE CONGESTION RECORD FOR THE REGION THIS YEAR. AS OF 9PM THAT EVENING, CONGESTION ON SOME SECTIONS OF THE ROAD HAS NOT YET EASED.IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION WITH THE LONG-TERM STRIKE OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, FOUR SUBURBAN LIGHT RAIL LINES IN THE GREATER PARIS AREA WILL RESUME OPERATION ON THE 13TH, BUT THIS MOVE STILL CANNOT SOLVE THE CHAOTIC TRAFFIC SITUATION IN PARIS. ON THE 13TH, 8 SUBWAY LINES IN PARIS CONTINUED TO SUSPEND SERVICE.IN ADDITION, IF THE GENERAL STRIKE CONTINUES DURING THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD, IT WILL BRING GREATER TROUBLE TO PEOPLE'S TRAVEL. ACCORDING TO THE DATA IN 2018, ONE FIFTH OF FRENCH PEOPLE CHOOSE TO TRAVEL DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, MAINLY TO VISIT FRIENDS AND FAMILY.THE WEEK-LONG STRIKE HAS ALSO HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY, AFFECTING INDUSTRIES SUCH AS HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND RETAIL. IT IS REPORTED THAT AFTER THE GENERAL STRIKE BEGAN ON THE 5TH, THE FOOT TRAFFIC OF SOME SHOPS IN PARIS AND OTHER PLACES DECREASED, AND HOTEL BOOKINGS IN LYON AND OTHER PLACES DECREASED.