Taxis demonstrate this Monday in France – Liberation on Monday

Taxis were demonstrating this Monday, May 19 In France, notably in Paris, Pau, Lorient or Bastia to protest a new pricing project imposed by health insurance on Transport of patients to the heated drivers. « On May 19, the taxis of France mobilized at the call of the inter -union of professional federations against this model of pricing and the impunity which the digital VTC platforms benefit », Indicates the National Taxi Federation (FNDT) in a press release.

Rallies were planned « An almost everywhere on the territory », Particularly in agglomerations and more particularly in Paris Boulevard Raspail, in the ministries district, and in Pau, the city of Prime Minister François Bayrou, the FNDT federal secretary, Dominique Buisson, told AFP. In Pau « We are going to demand acts and then words », explained Stéphane Abeilhon, spokesperson for the union organization of taxis of Haute-Garonne (OST31), who will join from Toulouse the Cité Béarnaise, whose station and the two main arteries will be blocked « de facto » By mobilization (a thousand taxis expected, according to him). « If Mr. Mayor of Pau Do not receive us, it will be the Prime Minister who will receive our federations in Paris. He will have the choice ”, said Stéphane Abeilhon.

They were a hundred this morning to block Boulevard Raspail in Paris, with great reinforcement of horns and smoke bombs. On the side of Lorient, taxis blocked the entrances to the city, according to The telegram. And snail operations have been carried out on the Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) device, reports Ocean press. In Bastia (Haute-Corse), the exit of the commercial port was blocked, according to the police.

In the capital, the demonstrators plan to meet every day of the week from 7 am boulevard Raspail, which will be closed to traffic for the occasion, with a stand installed at the crossroads with Boulevard Saint-Germain to assert their claims, said the FNDT, adding to wait « More than 5,000 » vehicles.

“We ask for an inter -ministerial meeting, in the presence of the ministers. The state must stop despising us, said Dominique Buisson. We depend on seven ministries, transport, interior, finance, health … At the last meeting, in April at the Ministry of Transport, no minister was present, they were all more interesting to do. ” This pricing, which must still be approved by the government, must enter into force on October 1, according to health insurance.

The objective is to control the growth of health transport expenditure, which amounted to 6.74 billion euros in 2024, including 3.07 billion for approved taxis (+ 45 % since 2019). The taxis will be remunerated on the basis of a care package and a kilometric pricing aligned on the price fixed in each department.

The sector says it is ready to discuss, in particular favorable to shared transport and to « Cost optimization ». But he asked for the freezing of the current project, according to him defined unilaterally, « Based on theory by forgetting the feasibility », Not taking into account for example the variations in journey times, and ultimately in its harmful application for taxis like patients. This convention is « Unacceptable both economically and working conditions », For example, underlines the Bordeaux Métropole Gironde (STBMG) taxi union. She « Threats the already fragile balance of our profession, in particular in rural areas, leads to a drop in prices, does not take into account the territorial specificities or the realities on the ground », lists the union. In Bordeaux, taxis will therefore not ensure medical transport to hospitals on Monday, except for dialysis, said a spokesperson. On the other hand, no snail operation is provided in the Gironde city.

Taxis have demonstrated seven times in recent months to express their concern about this project. Today around 85 % of taxis are carrying out the agreement of patients, some of them being able to make 90 % of their income by this means, especially in rural areas, according to Dominique Buisson. For him, « Behind all this, the objective is to dissuade taxis from conventional transporting, resting their remuneration ».

In fact the FNDT also calls to demonstrate this Monday against « Impunity » Given to VTC digital platforms, « Who encourage their drivers to break regulations » (taking customers on public roads, etc.) and « Optimize their activities in France ».

Updated At 1:24 p.m. with details on the demonstrations on Monday morning.