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French Taxi Drivers Intensify Protests Over Government Regulations and Ride-hailing Services
Paris, May 25 - French taxi drivers have escalated their protests against the government, threatening to cause disruptions at major transportation hubs and high-profile events in the city. The escalation comes as a result of a long-standing dispute over new regulations concerning the transport of patients.
The National Taxi Federation, led by Emmanuelle Cordier, has called for the immediate withdrawal of a new patient transport pricing agreement and a return to negotiation. Taxi drivers have been mobilized nationally, blocking roads in various locations, causing significant traffic disruptions, especially around airports and hospital areas.
In a tense development, taxi drivers have threatened to block access to Paris's two main international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, as well as the French Open tennis tournament at Roland-Garros, which commenced yesterday. On May 25, the drivers announced their intention to disrupt the tennis tournament during its second day.
The government has organized a high-level meeting, including Prime Minister François Bayrou, to address the crisis. This meeting, scheduled for May 24, aims to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute. However, taxi drivers have vowed to maintain pressure through the end of May.
In addition to the patient transport pricing dispute, taxi drivers have voiced ongoing grievances about ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt, which they perceive as insufficiently regulated competitors threatening their livelihoods.
Health transport expenditure reached €6.74 billion in 2024, of which €3.07 billion was spent on licensed taxis. The government maintains that the new regulations are necessary, but taxi drivers claim they will severely erode their income, as patient transport represents a significant part of their businesses.
The escalating protests are part of a protracted, coordinated effort by French taxi drivers. Their actions involve road blockades and threats to paralyze major transportation hubs and high-profile events in Paris. Their primary demand remains the repeal of the new patient transport pricing regulations.
- The Committee for International News has reported on the ongoing dispute, with taxi drivers challenging government regulations, particularly those affecting the pricing of international patient transport.
- In an effort to raise awareness, taxi drivers have employed various tactics, such as blocking major transportation hubs, including two international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, and the French Open tennis tournament at Roland-Garros.
- In the realm of technology, concerns over the impact of ride-hailing platforms on traditional taxi businesses have also been expressed by the National Taxi Federation, with mass protests extending beyond the patient transport pricing dispute.
- As the government and Prime Minister François Bayro prepare for their high-level meeting to address the crisis, smartphone manufacturers have expressed interest in the potential implications this controversy might have on the sales of gadgets in the region, given the disruptions to transportation hubs.
