2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On 17 June Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès met with Georges-Louis Bouchez (MR), Egbert Lachaert (Open Vld), and Joachim Coens (CD&V), presidents of the three government parties, to discuss the proposition by Conner Rousseau and Paul Magnette. Afterward it became known that these three now took the lead of the formation discussions, starting from the government parties, as Egbert Lachaert had proposed earlier.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
The three presidents, commonly named 'Three Kings' by the press, declared that a classical triparty was not their preference and they intended foremost to form a stable majority government, which had to set up strong support- and repair policies to combat the consequences of the Coronacrisis. According to MR-president Bouchez a triparty government could only be considered if all other options had been eliminated. The three initiative takers hoped to have a better view on a possible majority coalition by the Belgian National Day of 21 July. In the meantime, the government would, in consultation with the communities, prepare a recovery plan to combat the economic consequences of the Coronacrisis.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
According to several sources, the three initiative takers were working in the first place on a coalition without the PS, in which sp.a and cdH would join the Swedish coalition from the previous legislature (N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld and MR). This coalition, named Arizonacoalition in the media (referring to the flag of the U.S. state of Arizona), would have a narrow majority of 76 of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives, but would be a minority in the parliamentary commissions, which would be preparing the legislative tasks. Moreover, sp.a would need to drop its political family member PS, and MR and cdH would only represent 19 of 61 Francophone seats, all making this coalition difficult.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On 29 June the initiative takers announced they were working on a substantive note around a recovery plan which would ease the socioeconomic consequences of the Coronacrisis and which would focus on social security, health care, and durability. This note was initially aimed to convince the six parties which would be part of the Arizonacoalition to start negotiating about a new government, as these were also the remaining parties that had not called out a veto against each other. Nevertheless, it was not excluded that other parties could still possibly join the negotiations at a later point.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
Two days later, on 1 July, sp.a-president Rousseau declared willing to talk about an Arizonacoalition, on condition that the trio of initiative takers would take into account some important demands from his party in their starting note. To make clear what these demands were exactly, Rousseau handed a note to the trio, in which he demanded (amongst other) strong investments in health care and a fair contribution by wealthy individuals and large multinationals. Before that, N-VA and cdH had as well sent their priorities to the initiative takers.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On Thursday 2 July 2020 the Chamber of Representatives had on the agenda a proposal to further decrease the penalization on abortion, a topic which was very sensitive with government party CD&V. They, as well as cdH, N-VA, and Vlaams Belang were opposed to the proposition. Allegedly, CD&V, MR, and Open Vld had an agreement to send the case back to the qualified commission, despite support for the case by the liberal parties. In the afternoon of 2 July, MR-president Bouchez announced however that he would allow the parliament members of his party to vote freely according to their beliefs.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
His CDxV colleague Joachim Coens was very displeased about this, stating a breach of trust. Eventually, the case was defined by demanding advice from the Council of State, avoiding a vote. Nevertheless, CD&V held an internal meeting and decided to pause the government formation. According to Coens the confidence between MR and CD&V needed to be regained before the formation could be continued. One day later the initiative takers held a crisisdeliberation and the fight between Coens and Bouchez was resolved, after which the trio continued their formation discussions.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On 4 July, the trio conferred with sp.a-president Rousseau to discuss his note of demands, on 6 July the negotiators wtned to set up a meeting with N-VA, sp.a, and cdH to discuss their starting note. Sp.a and cdH refused however to accept the invitation; as they felt more bilateral conversations were necessary, as they had not yet received sufficient guarantees. As a result, the meeting was cancelled and bilateral meetings were held the following days; the same day the negotiators met with N-VA-president Bart De Wever, followed by a meeting on 7 July with cdH-president Maxime Prévot and on 9 July with sp.a-president Conner Rousseau.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On Tuesday 14 July PS-president Paul Magnette announced he was again prepared to negotiate with N-VA, and that he no longer excluded talks on a new state reform. The three negotiators reacted cautiously optimistic to Magnette's statement, but declared they would not restart the negotiations from scratch. They intended to confer with the six parties in the Arizona-coalition to discuss their starting note, and if it led to something, possibly involve the PS as well in the government formation discussions.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On 16 July a meeting took place with the technicians or so-called sherpa's of MR, Open Vld, CD&V, cdH, N-VA, and sp.a. This did not lead to much; both N-VA as sp.a had several remarks and were of the opinion the note of the three negotiators did not meet their needs sufficiently. Bouchez, Coens and Lachaert then asked those parties to write a text in which they proposed what should be changed in their starting note.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Initiative by Georges-Louis Bouchez, Egbert Lachaert and Joachim Coens (17 June 2020 – 19 July 2020)
On 17 July another meeting between the sherpa's would take place, but was cancelled at last instance as N-VA and sp.a had not proposed any concrete changes. In the meantime news leaked that those parties had also been having discrete discussions with the PS about the possible formation of a purple-yellow government. As a result of this, the three initiative takers decided on 19 July to stop their attempts, according to them it was of nu further use to talk about an Arizonacoalition until there was more clarity about the viability of a purple-yellow government.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
Following the probing conversations between N-VA and PS, and after a consultation by telephone of the Palace with all parties that had been involved in the discussions after the elections, party presidents Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Paul Magnette (PS) received an audience on 20 July 2020 by King Philippe.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
Both parties had indicated they were willing to sit together and hence De Wever and Magnette received the assignment by the Palace to take the necessary initiatives to form a majority government. As they had to prepare the formation of a government, thet were called "preformationists" by the media (while officially, with still a government in place, the Palace is not entitled to hand out this title). On 31 July Magnette and De Wever were expected to report back to the King. De Wever and Magnette tried to find consensus amongst the parties with which they were negotiating on three specific topics: institutional reforms, the socio-economic policy, and safety and migration.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
On 28 July De Wever and Magnette invited the presidents of the liberal (MR and Open Vld) and Christian democrat (CD&V and cdH) parties to orally elaborate on their note and confer with these parties on their opinions. On 30 July MR and Open Vld delivered a note to the preformationists with remarks concerning the starting note and a set of content demands from their own. One day late, Magnette and De Wever again went to King Philippe, who extended their assignment until 8 August, with the request to bring the party presidents together as soon as possible to find a supporting plane for the creation of a majority government.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
That same day it became clear that Magnette and De Wever intended to form a government with the N-VA and the socialist and Christian democrat parties, as well as one liberal party. For the liberal party, they were specifically looking towards Open Vld, as the attitude op MR-president Georges-Louis Bouchez aroused resentment, as according to several parties Bouchez' only intention was to make the negotiations fail such as to keep the Wilmès II Government (containing seven MR ministers) in place.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
The next day Open Vld held an extensive party meeting, at which was unanimously decided that the socio-economic and institutional content of the starting note of the preformationists had to be adjusted before negotiations could start as well as the fact that the party wanted to remain together with its liberal Francophone colleagues from MR. On 4 August the preformationists set up a meeting with the green parties Ecolo and Groen, to discuss their starting note. The green parties as well were of the opinion that serious changes needed to happen for the starting note to be acceptable for them.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
They asked De Wever and Magnette to clarify on certain gaps in the note, specifically on climate policy and the institutional content. Thereafter on 6 August a meeting was held between the performationists and sp.a, CD&V and cdH, in which they analysed which options remained to them after the discussions with the liberals and the greens.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
The day after a new meeting with the liberal parties was held, who now stated they were willing to talk about the staring note with the preformationists, on the condition that De Wever and Magnette gave more insights on the specific formula they had in mind. On 8 August the preformationists returned to the King, who again extended their assignment, now until 17 August. King Philippe specifically requested all involved parties to display a sense of responsibility to quickly obtain a coalition agreement.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
The preformationists continued to have meetings with both the liberal as well as the green parties, with on 12 August an exchange with Groen and Ecolo where they discussed the climate, energy and environmental policies. On 13 August the liberal and green parties sent out a joint press release in which they restated their concerns around the institutional plans of the preformationists, and in which they called on De Wever and Magnette to give clarity on which political family they wanted to start the government negotiations with.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette (20 July 2020 – 18 August 2020)
The day after, on 14 August, a short meeting took place with the liberal parties, but no progress was made, after which De Wever and Magentte decided to hand in their resignation as preformationists at their audience on 17 August and ask the King to hand over the lead of the formation discussions to the liberal and green parties. The King held his decision under consideration and started consultation with the party presidents of N-VA, PS, sp.a, CD&V, cdH, MR, Open Vld, Ecolo, Groen, and DéFI.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Royal assignment holder Egbert Lachaert (18 August 2020 – 4 September 2020)
After his consultations, King Philippe handed Open Vld-president Egbert Lachaert the assignment of forming a government, simultaneously accepting the resignation of De Wever and Magnette. Just as his predecessors, Lachaert was asked to look for a broad majority coalition in parliament and announced he would be carrying out his task with discretion. On 28 August he was expected back at the Palace to report on progress.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Royal assignment holder Egbert Lachaert (18 August 2020 – 4 September 2020)
On Wednesday 26 August, in a conversation with N-VA-president Bart De Wever, Lachaert made clear that he intended at first to investigate a Vivaldicoalition of liberals (MR and Open Vld), socialists (PS and sp.a), greens (Ecolo and Groen) and CD&V.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Royal assignment holder Egbert Lachaert (18 August 2020 – 4 September 2020)
Two days prior to that, the Flemish Christian democrats, who had for a long time been insisting for a government with a majority on the Flemish side — only possible when N-VA is part of it — had decided at a party meeting that they were open to discuss such a coalition, on condition some demands of their party were taken into account. These included a thorough state reform shifting authorizations towards the communities and no implementation of any ethical agenda. On 26 and 27 August the assignment holder presented a substantial note to the socialist, green and Christian democrat parties.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Royal assignment holder Egbert Lachaert (18 August 2020 – 4 September 2020)
The day after, King Philippe extended the assignment of Lachaert to 4 September, as the socialists — whose demands regarding pensions, health care and taxation were difficult for the liberals — and CD&V were not sufficiently convinced to move to a next phase. On Sunday 30 August, Lachaert met with cdH-president Maxime Prévot to discuss his starting note, after which he brought together than evening Open Vld, MR, PS, sp.a, Ecolo, Groen, and CD&V for an informative meeting. On the evening of 31 August the top CD&V party members got together again to discuss the possible participation in a Vivaldi coalition. Still, the party was not fully convinced and requested further clarifications from the Royal assignment holder.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Royal assignment holder Egbert Lachaert (18 August 2020 – 4 September 2020)
After CD&V-president Joachim Coens had indicated he was willing to give the negotiations for a Vivaldicoalition a chance, a meeting was held in the afternoon of 3 September between eight partiesa: PS, sp.a, Open Vld, MR, Ecolo, Groen, CD&V, and cdH. No breakthrough was made as there were still some discussion points for which no agreement was found, including social security, abortion, taxation and phasing out of the nuclear power plants. The morning of 4 September, the eight parties met again to discuss these remaining points and to possibly assign one or more formationists who would lead the negotiations further.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
After the eight parties had found a solution for the remaining discussion points in the morning of 4 September, Lachaert returned his task as Royal assignment holder back to the King. Lachaert declared he would like to continue negotiating with the parties currently involved, with the exception of cdH, which was no longer invited from that point on. As there was no unanimity on who should lead the government, no formationist was appointed yet and instead Lachaert and Rousseau were named preformationists together.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
In a following press conference, Lachaert declared what would be the most important priorities for the new government: reforming the political system (both institutional reforms as the manner in which politics is being done), reinforcing social security and health care, making the economy and labor market more efficient, an ambitions climate policy, a simple transparent and just taxation, a strong safety policy, an efficient justice system and a credible budget plan. Ultimately by 11 September the preformationists are to report back to the Palace.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
On Tuesday 8 September preformationist Lachaert tested positive for the Coronavirus, resulting in all party presidents and technical negotiators involved in the negotiations being placed in quarantine for up to nine days. This meant that until 16 September only digital formation discussions were possible. This made it very unlikely for the negotiators to be able to meet the deadline of 17 September, the date at which Sophie Wilmès would again have to ask for a vote of confidence for her government, as she had promised during her government statement in the Chamber of Representatives on 17 March.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
Moreover, several negotiating parties stated they would rather decide in a physical meeting who would become formationist. On 10 September the presidents of the negotiating parties agreed that Sophie Wilmès would be allowed to only need to ask for confidence on 1 October, and the following day the assignment of the preformationists was extended via a telephone audience until 21 September. Vlaams Belang responded to the extension by filing a motion of no confidence, hoping to force a vote on the issue before 1 October anyway.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
N-VA and PVDA-PTB followed suit, filing their own motions of no confidence and accusing the government of breaking its own promise. The parties involved in the negotiations subsequently replied with a motion of order that removed the other motions from the agenda of the Chamber. Upon resuming of the physical negotiations, working groups were created which were focusing on specific topics, such as climate, fiscal reforms, migration, and the preparation of a new state reform by the elections of 2024.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
On 20 September the negotiations between the seven parties were abruptly stopped, due to displeasure concerning the attitude of MR-president Georges-Louis Bouchez, who kept challenging agreements which had been made earlier in the working groups, demanded that his party member Sophie Wilmès would remain Prime Minister and had lashed out heavily at PS-president Paul Magnette in an interview. To recover confidence, the preformationists held separate conversations with each of the parties involved, including Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès in the discussions. All parties separated ways without an agreement, however.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
The next morning, sp.a decided it no longer wanted to negotiate with MR, as according to them this party was not willing to come to a solution. Open Vld however was still not willing to be separated from MR and wanted to continue under the current constellation, or else Lachaert would return his assignment to the King. Nevertheless, sp.a again joined the meeting that afternoon together with MR, Open Vld, PS, Ecolo, Groen, and CD&V, in an attempt to clear up the problems between the parties.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
No progress was made, after which the preformationists returned to the King to inform him no consensus had been found on how to continue, and to hand in their resignation. King Philippe however refused to accept their resignation and instead demanded them to continue, giving them until 23 September to restore confidence between the seven parties. That evening Rousseau gave a press conference in which he stated he wanted to continue negotiating, under condition that MR would give a strong internal signal to restore confidence.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Preformationists Egbert Lachaert and Conner Rousseau (4 September 2020 – 23 September 2020)
On 22 and 23 September the preformationists held further bilateral conversations with the various parties. In the afternoon of 23 September Lachaert and Rousseau came to an agreement concerning some basic guarantees for a new government, with which MR-president Georges-Louis Bouchez could agree. As foreseen, the preformationists reported back to King Philippe with their final report, as their claimed to have restored confidence.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Coformationists Alexander De Croo and Paul Magnette (23 September 2020 - 1 October 2020)
Rousseau and Lachaert were relieved of their duty after submitting their final report, after which the formation phase was started. King Philippe appointed two coformationists: Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) and Paul Magnette (PS), implicitly making the duo the two prime candidates to become the next Prime Minister. They were given until 28 September to write a first report, to allow a new government to be created by the due date of 1 October. The choice of King Philippe for Magnette was not approved of by MR, but they were positive towards the choice for De Croo. Some CD&V party members were displeased about the appointment of De Croo.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Coformationists Alexander De Croo and Paul Magnette (23 September 2020 - 1 October 2020)
Nevertheless, the seven parties continued negotiations from 24 September. Firstly the topics of energy, climate, mobility, entrepreneurship, justice, safety, asylum and migration, employment, job market, pensions, a part of taxation, and political renewal were tackled and from Sunday 27 September the budget was treated. On 28 September Magnette and De Croo reported back to King Philippe on the formation progress. As the coalition agreement was not yet complete, King Philippe demanded to submit their final report as soon as possible. That same day and the day after, the negotiators continued working on the budget exercise.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Coformationists Alexander De Croo and Paul Magnette (23 September 2020 - 1 October 2020)
On 29 September it was decided that a secretary of state would be appointed who would coordinate the Covid response policy. On 30 September at 6:30 a.m. the negotiators from PS, sp.a, Open Vld, MR, CD&V, Ecolo, and Groen came to a coalition agreement for the formation of a new federal government, with Alexander De Croo being announced as new Prime Minister. The coformationists were received by the palace at noon and informed the king that an agreement had been reached. The parties then spent the afternoon negotiating the distribution of the cabinet positions and associated portfolio's amongst themselves.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Coformationists Alexander De Croo and Paul Magnette (23 September 2020 - 1 October 2020)
The coalition agreement was put to a vote and approved by the party congresses of the seven parties that same evening. The next day, 1 October 2020, the new De Croo government was eventually sworn in, with the 15 ministers and 5 state secretaries taking their oath in the presence of king Philippe. De Croo presented his government declaration to the Chamber of Representatives afterwards. Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, the meeting of the Chamber took place in the larger European parliament building, so that social distancing rules could be respected.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Federal government, Timeline, Coformationists Alexander De Croo and Paul Magnette (23 September 2020 - 1 October 2020)
The following day, debate in the Chamber continued between government and opposition parties. On 3 October 2020, the new government gained the confidence from the chamber, with 87 of the 148 votes in favor. The independent representative Emir Kir supported the coalition, while opposition parties N-VA, Vlaams Belang and PVDA-PTB voted against the government. Opposition parties CDH and DéFI abstained from the vote.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Flemish government
On 12 August, N-VA released a starting note intended to form the basis of a continued governing coalition of N-VA, CD&V and Open Vld. Jan Jambon will likely become Minister-President. The government was not formed in time for the traditional "September Declaration", when the Minister-President gives a speech to the Flemish Parliament at the start of the parliamentary year.


2019–2020 Belgian government formation, Government of the German-speaking Community
A few days after the elections, the incumbent coalition of ProDG, SP and PFF agreed to continue governing. Oliver Paasch remained Minister-President. On Monday 17 June 2019, the four ministers took the oath in front of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community and the next day the Minister-President took the oath in front of King Philippe.


2019–2020 Bobsleigh World Cup
The 2019–20 Bobsleigh World Cup is a multi-race series over a season for bobsleigh. The season will start on 29 November in Park City, USA and will finish on 16 February 2019 in Sigulda, Latvia. The World Cup is organised by the IBSF (formerly the FIBT) who also run World Cups and Championships in skeleton. The season is sponsored by BMW.


2019–2020 Catalan protests
The sentencing of nine Catalan independence leaders in a 2019 trial by the Supreme Court of Spain triggered protests in Catalonia. They were convicted of sedition and other crimes against the Spanish state for their role in the organization of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Background
The Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia has a long established independence movement, which seeks to establish Catalonia as an independent and sovereign republic, thus breaking off from the Kingdom of Spain. A non-binding 2014 Catalan self-determination referendum resulted in a victory for proponents of Catalan independence (although with a turnout of 37%), which emboldened Catalan authorities to conduct the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, which they deemed would be binding and result in the independence of Catalonia.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Background
The Spanish Government, then led by Mariano Rajoy, however, considered this an act of illegal separatism and appealed to the Spanish Supreme Court to block the referendum. The Supreme Court concurred and ordered Catalonia to cancel the referendum.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Background
The autonomous Catalan government, however, refused and held the referendum despite the Supreme Court's binding order. The Spanish Government launched Operation Anubis, in which it attempted to forcefully stop the referendum from taking place by raiding polling stations, preventing the printing and publication of electoral materials, taking down websites advocating or providing information for the referendum and prosecuting its organizers. The Catalan government resisted the police operation and carried through with the referendum.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Background
By the end of the polling day, the Catalan government had declared that the referendum had been successfully held and announced that over 90% of voters had voted for independence with a 43% voter turnout. Nine days later, citing the result of the referendum, the Parliament of Catalonia voted for and issued the Catalan declaration of independence, which declared an independent Republic of Catalonia.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Background
The declaration, however, was in direct contradiction to Article 115 Spanish Constitution, as well as the orders of the Spanish Supreme court and Spanish Government. For this reason, the Spanish government ended the region's autonomy and imposed direct rule over Catalonia, seizing control of the entirety of the autonomous government's institutions and infrastructure. The Spanish Government, along with the far-right Vox Party, then began to prosecute a case against several of the autonomous region's leaders, as well as the organizers of the referendum. They were brought before the Spanish Supreme Court in the trial of Catalonia independence leaders.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Background
On 14 October 2019, nine of the Catalan independence leaders were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison, with another three being fined. The demonstrations erupted to protest the Supreme Court's ruling shortly thereafter.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Protests begin
Protests against the sentencing of the Catalan independence leaders began on 14 October at Barcelona-El Prat Airport just hours after the Spanish Supreme Court announced its verdict. By the afternoon, thousands of protesters had already gathered at the airport, effectively forcing the airport to close. Clashes erupted between protesters and police forces after the latter charged at and attempted to disperse the former with police batons. The Catalan Government, led by the pro-independence Quim Torra called for both the amnesty of the convicted leaders and a renewed attempt to realize Catalan independence.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Protests begin
Clashes erupted into open violence, as protesters reacted violently at police efforts to end the demonstration, with some demonstrators reportedly throwing rocks and using fire extinguishers against police officers. The Catalan Law Enforcement agency Mossos d'Esquadra, which had previously been accused of aiding the independence movement, replied by firing tear gas at the demonstrators. The pro-independence speaker of the Catalan Parliament condemned the violent incidents and called for peaceful protests against the ruling. The protests grew larger, as more and more Catalans took to the streets. Some demonstrators attempted to storm buildings belonging to the Spanish Government and clashed with police forces. The Spanish Police announced that 51 protesters had been arrested.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Quim Torra addresses the protest
On 17 October, the pro-independence President of the Catalan Autonomous government, Quim Torra, called for an immediate halt to violence and disassociated himself from violent protesters, while at the same time calling for more peaceful protests. Nevertheless, the situation in Barcelona had evolved into open street battles between protesters and police, as both violent demonstrators attacked and provoked police forces, and police officers charged peaceful protesters for their proximity to violent ones.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Quim Torra addresses the protest
Shortly thereafter, the Catalan President attempted to rally the crowd by stating that he would push for a new independence referendum as large scale protests continued for the fourth day. On 18 October, Barcelona became paralyzed, as tens of thousands of peaceful protesters answered the Catalan President's call and rallied in support of the jailed independence leaders. The demonstration grew quickly, with the Barcelona police counting at least 525,000 protesters in the city.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
By late 18 October, minor trade unions (Intersindical-CSC and Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya) linked to pro-independence movement called for a general strike. However, major trade unions (UGT and CCOO) did not endorse the event as well as representatives of the latter contested its very nature as "strike". Five peaceful marches converged on Barcelona's city center, essentially bringing the city to a halt. Protesters further blocked the road on the French-Spanish border. At least 20 other major roads were also blocked. Clashes nevertheless took place, with masked protesters confronting riot police by throwing stones and setting rubbish bins alight. 25,000 university students joined in the protest movement by declaring a peaceful student strike.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
As a result of the strike, trains and metro lines saw a reduction to 33% of their usual capacity, while buses saw a reduction to 25-50% of their usual capacity. The roads to the French border remained blocked and all roads leading into Barcelona were also cut. 190 flights in and out of the city were cancelled as a result of the strike.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
Spanish car manufacturer SEAT further announced a halt in the production of its Martorell plant and most of Barcelona's tourist sites had been closed and occupied by pro-independence demonstrators waving estelada independence flags and posters with pro-independence slogans. The El Clásico football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF was postponed due to the strike.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
By the end of the day, just like the previous days, riots developed in the centre of Barcelona. Masked individuals blocked the boulevard close to the city's police headquarters. Withdrawn to the vicinity of the Plaça Urquinaona, protesters erected barricades setting trash bins in fire and hurled rubble (shattered from the pavement) and other solid objects at riot policemen. The riot units responded with non-lethal foam, rubber bullets, tear gas, and smoke grenades. For the first time, the Mossos used water cannon trucks acquired in 1994 from Israel in order to clear the barricades.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
The clashes spread to cities outside Barcelona, with Spain's acting interior minister stating that 207 policemen had been injured since the start of the protests, while also noting that 128 people had been arrested by the nation's police forces. Miquel Buch, the Catalan Interior Minister, responsible for public order, and a pro-independence politician, called the violence "unprecedented" and distanced himself from the violent events, instead calling for peaceful protests to continue.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
A Spanish judge ordered the closure of an influential, but secretive Catalan protest group dubbed Democratic Tsunami. It had drawn thousands of followers and had directed its members to protest sites. Democratic Tsunami reacted to its ban by accusing the Spanish Authorities of censorship, stating that it had always been non-violent.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
On 19 October, following a fifth consecutive night of violence, Catalan President Quim Torra called for talks between the Catalan independence movement and the Spanish government, adding that violence had never been the "flag" of the independence movement. The head of the Spanish Government, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, refused to hold talks with the Catalan government, as it deemed the former had not condemned the violence strongly enough. He further categorically rejected the idea of discussing Catalan independence, stating that it was impossible under Spanish law.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, General strike
Despite the pleas of the Catalan leaders for the demonstrations to remain peaceful, violence once again erupted by nightfall, leading to clashes between protesters and police forces for the sixth night in a row.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Demonstrations continue
Despite the fact that demonstrations had been taking place on a daily basis, the protests were reinvigorated again on 26 October, after Assemblea Nacional Catalana and Òmnium Cultural, two organizations whose former leaders had been jailed for sedition following the trial, called for a march at 5pm local time. 350,000 people attended the rally in Barcelona alone. The rally remained mostly peaceful. The Catalan president thanked the demonstrators for their participation.


2019–2020 Catalan protests, Demonstrations continue
A separate protest called by the Committees for the Defense of the Republic began at about 7:30pm, numbering about 10,000. Despite a peaceful beginning, violent clashes took place before the local police headquarters after masked youths threw colorful plastic balls at the police officers present. The colorful balls were then replaced with stones and bottles, while police forces charged the demonstrators with batons. The protesters later formed a human chain in order to block any advances on Urquinaona square. The police charged the protesters with 20 riot vans and dispersed demonstrators through Barcelona's Gran Via avenue after splitting the protest in two. At several points the demonstrators resisted the charges by setting up barricades on the street.


2019–2020 Colombian protests
The 2019–2020 Colombian protests were a collection of protests that began on 21 November 2019. Hundreds of thousands of Colombians demonstrated for various reasons. Some protested against income inequality, corruption, police brutality and various proposed economic and political reforms proposed by the government of Iván Duque Márquez, others against the few violent protestors and in favor of the Colombian peace process.


2019–2020 Colombian protests
While mostly peaceful in nature, a few violent incidents took place throughout the protests, leading to overnight curfews in Cali and Bogotá. It is "one of the largest mass demonstrations Colombia has witnessed in recent years". The second phase of the protests, which started on 10 September 2020, were more violent and resulted in 17 deaths.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Background, Corruption
According to 2018 Corruption Perception Index data released by Transparency International to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), Colombia scores 36 points. This is below the global average of 43 points, and makes Colombia the 99th most corrupt country in the world.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Background, Corruption
Protesters have expressed anger at corruption perception in the country.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Background, Austerity measures
Rumors of possible austerity measures, denied by President Duque, angered left-wing groups, students and indigenous groups. The idea of such measures originated from the introduction of a bill by Álvaro Uribe, mentor of President Duque.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Background, Peace process
Duque has been criticized strongly by human rights organizations for his opposition and ambivalence to the Colombian peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as violence occurring in rural areas of Colombia resulted with the deaths of indigenous leaders. Also both FARC and the right-wing Colombian government have been accused repeatedly of human rights violations and of violating the peace treaty signed by both parties in Havana, Cuba in 2016.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Background, Income inequality
Inequality in Colombia refers to the existing economic and social inequality in the country. According to World Bank figures, in 2017, Colombia was the second most unequal country in Latin America and the seventh in the world, out of the total of 194 countries that exist on the planet. Despite sustained economic growth of gross domestic product, which stood at 6.6% between 2006–2014, the inequality index did not drop enough during the peak of the oil boom.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Background, Income inequality
As a means of demonstrating, labor unions organized a twelve-hour nationwide strike that was to be held on 21 November 2019, with other groups such as Indigenous leaders, students, and anti-corruption activists.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline
Time reports that the protesters in Colombia come from all backgrounds, and that they are protesting because of a general displeasure with government actions across a range of issues, triggered to action by rumors of pension cuts. These protests follow smaller student protests earlier in the year that failed to attract many supporters or attention, and have been inspired by the other protests across Latin America.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 21 November
On 21 November, many Colombians, estimated between 200,000 and over 1 million, protested throughout the country, with the government responding by deploying 170,000 troops. The Colombian government also closed all of its borders.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 21 November
Following similar demonstrations throughout Latin America, protesters displayed flags of Chile and Ecuador and banners reading "South America woke up", and chanted anti-violence slogans. Demonstrations turned violent, with clashes between police and protesters occurring later in the day and some groups attempting to storm Capitolio Nacional, the building that houses the Congress of Colombia. Fights broke out near the country's international airport, and tear gas was also fired at people at the National University of Bogotá.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 21 November
During the protests on 21 November, 68 out of 138 TransMilenio stations were vandalized, 48 percent of the system infrastructure. The mayor of Cali imposed a curfew from 19:00 local time until 6:00 the next morning (UTC−5) as a response to violence. In the evening, a spontaneous cacerolazo happened in the capital and several other cities, after which senator Gustavo Petro encouraged more protests. On the first day of protests, three people were killed, with 98 arrested and 273 combined protesters and security forces injured.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 22 November
The following day, thousands of protesters gathered at Plaza Bolívar in the capital Bogotá, where they were later dispersed with tear gas. In response to the protests, President Duque said that he would open a "national conversation" after the weekend; the Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said that 11 investigations into "alleged misconduct by members of the security forces" had begun.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 22 November
Transportation in the capital was largely closed, and road blockades had been built in some areas. Many protests were peaceful, while some instances of looting and the theft of a public bus occurred in the capital city, where a curfew was enforced in the evening. Some protesters ignored the curfew, with others protesting outside of Duque's house through the night. In Santander de Quilichao in the southwest of the country, three police officers were killed, and ten more injured, by a car bomb.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 22 November
After the initial anti-austerity and anti-corruption protests had begun, other groups joined in demonstrations, including environmental action groups, animal rights groups, and women's rights groups. The lootings happening in poorer areas have contributed to an increase in anti-Venezuelan sentiment, with some suspecting Venezuelan migrants to part of the perpetrators.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 23 November
Going into the morning of 23 November, Duque said that he would not recall troops that had been patrolling in the streets, and that the measure was to maintain order. After the previous night's curfew, protesters returned to the streets, with hundreds in the capital's National Park being dispersed with tear gas, and to Plaza Bolívar and the Capitol building. When looting happened through protests and rioting, the government referred to the actions as an "orchestrated terror campaign".


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, 23 November
One protester was critically wounded on Saturday after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister, prompting other protesters to hold a vigil. The protester died two days later.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, December
On 1 December, the so-called Continental Cacerolazo was held, in Bogotá the Andean cacerolazo was held in Park Way and popular assemblies began in neighborhoods of Bogotá. A week later the so-called "Concert of the Strike" or "A Song for Colombia" was held in Bogotá on 8 December at the Simón Bolívar Park with artists such as Doctor Krapula, Bomba Estéreo, Adriana Lucía, Diamante Eléctrico, Totó la Momposina, among others.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2019, December
On 10 December, mobilizations were held for International Human Rights Day, 82 holding sit-ins in front of the National University of Colombia and the National Center for Historical Memory, ending in Disturbances. On the other hand, ESMAD made two illegal arrests. On 16 December, a cacerolazo was held in front of the Congress of the Republic when the tax reform or "Economic Growth Law" was debated in rejection of it. In Cali there were riots in the Juanchito sector. Three days later, a demonstration was held in the north of the country's capital, riots broke out in front of the Colombian Stock Exchange and a young man loses an eye when fleeing to the National Pedagogical University.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2020
On 13 January, meetings were held between the national government and the union, student and social organizations promoting the National Strike, without results. On 21 January, the National Strike Committee calls for a new pot and a national strike day. In the morning hours, in the main cities there were several blockades in the streets and thousands of people again expressed their discontent against the government of Iván Duque, there were some clashes with ESMAD and the public force, in turn, in Social networks reported abuses by the authorities. In Bogotá, Mayor Claudia López highlights the new protocol for protests declaring that "there were no deaths to regret".


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, 2020
On 21 February 2020, there were marches by teachers and university students, most of which take place normally, except for a disturbance that occurred in the vicinity of the Francisco José de Caldas District University.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, Responses to the protests, Favorable support of protest
the newly elected mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López Hernández, spoke in favor and encouraged the citizens of Bogotá not to fear protesting in peace (that was because the historically right-wing conservative Colombian government has had a long history of repressing protests in the past as a way of silencing dissent to controversial and unpopular and divisive right-wing conservative policies. Nowadays it is legal under Colombian Constitution of 1991 however, in practice only progressives and Greens support the right to protest in the political arena).


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, Responses to the protests, Favorable support of protest
Various sectors between public and private workers, very important university professors, students from public universities and some from private universities, popular soccer clubs like Millonarios F.C. and Santa Fe and groups from the political left confirmed their participation. Some personalities such as the singers Carlos Vives, Santiago Cruz and Adriana Lucía, the Miss Colombia 2019 María Fernanda Aristizábal, the senator Gustavo Petro, the member of ChocQuibTown


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, Responses to the protests, Favorable support of protest
Goyo and the actors Julián Román, Robinson Díaz, Juan Pablo Raba and Santiago Alarcón, in addition to the actresses Carolina Guerra, Cecilia Navia, Maria Fernanda Matus, and Margarita Rosa de Francisco, the journalist Daniel Samper Ospina, the humorist Alejandro Riaño, the soccer players Natalia Galán, Leicy Santos and Melissa Ortíz, as well as the Tour de France champion cyclist Egan Bernal and many others, also joined the movement.


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, Responses to the protests, International responses
The United Nations and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have demanded that the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation carry out an in-depth investigation to clarify responsibilities. "There should be no impunity," said the UN. Miguel Vivanco, HRW director for the Americas, has also addressed the new Defense Minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, to announce "measures to prevent this from happening again." The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and important British unionsexpressed their support for the National Strike in Colombia, as did the International Transport Federation (ITF) .155


2019–2020 Colombian protests, Timeline, Responses to the protests, International responses
Likewise, the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) expressed its support for the protestsThe Portuguese sociologist Boaventura de Sousa Santos sent an open letter to President Iván Duque to attend to the demands of the strike. The resident singers and Nicky Jam expressed their messages of support for the National Strike, as well as the Uruguayan footballer Nicolás Vikonis, who played between 2011 and 2017 in Colombia, Claudio Narea and Miguel Tapia, former members of the Chilean rock band Los Prisioneros, also expressed their support for the strike and the concert "Un canto por Colombia".


2019–2020 Congo River floods
The 2019–2020 Congo River floods were the result of heavy rains over the Congo River basin from October 2019 to January 2020 that caused the Congo and Ubangi rivers to overtop their banks. The deluge was a one-in-fifty-year event; by December 2019, the Congo River was carrying 70,000 cubic meters of water per second (2.5 million cu ft/s) past Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The floods and a subsequent November 2019 landslide killed more than 41 people in Kinshasa. Over 400,000 people were displaced out of at least 923,000 affected in the DRC. Additionally, the flooding affected over 170,000 people in the Republic of Congo, while the Central African Republic was also impacted.


2019–2020 Congo River floods
In January 2020, the flooding resulted in the longest turbidity current ever recorded, when approximately one cubic kilometer (0.24 cu mi) of sand and mud descended for 1,100 kilometers (680 mi) underwater over two days, traveling from the mouth of the Congo River, through the Congo Canyon and across the ocean floor. The current damaged two submarine communications cables, slowing internet traffic between Nigeria and South Africa.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike
A strike began on 5 December to protest against broad changes to France's pension system proposed by President Emmanuel Macron. Reforming the pensions was one of President Macron's promises and there are three primary proposals of the pension reform plan. The first is to create a universal state retirement plan, which would replace the 42 individual retirement plans that exist in France. The second is a "points system", to give a pension in proportion to the contributions paid. The third is to "improve the pensions of the most disadvantaged." The result of the system would increase the retirement age of many jobs in France.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike
The 2019 French pension reform plan follows the prior pension reforms in 1993, 2003, 2010, and 2013, but is far more comprehensive in that rather than adjusting the system. In September 2017, Jean-Paul Delevoye was appointed as High Commissioner for Pension Reforms, and was ordered to review the pensions system. In July 2019, he delivered a report of his recommendations, outlining the basics of a bill to be proposed to the National Assembly for pension reform.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike
He resigned on 16 December after the press revealed he forgot to disclose 13 volunteer activities including a remunerated one for the French Federation of Insurances. Jean-Paul Delevoye was replaced by Laurent Pietraszewski, former employee of the French multinational retail group Auchan. If the bill becomes law, it will only come into force in 2025.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike
Government ministers have claimed that the pension reforms will simplify a complex system, as well as making it fairer. Unions claim that the system will increase inequality between pensions and decrease the general level of the pensions.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike
This is the longest strike in modern French history. After a month of protest, polling reported in January 2020 a 61% support in favour of the strikes in the French population.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Background
The strikes, led in part by the CGT but also by the UNSA, the FSU and Solidaires unions, began prior to the disclosure of the details of President Emmanuel Macron's plan to merge France's current 42 different pension schemes into one state-managed system. The French government maintains that merging the variety of profession dependent schemes is crucial. Unions say introducing a single system will mean millions of workers will end up working beyond the legal retirement age of 62 or receiving a far lower pension.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Project
The project itself was officially announced on 11 December 2019. The mandatory impact study of the reform is to be released on 24 January with the submission of the project to the ministers. The government opted for an accelerated procedure with a submission to the House on 17 February.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Project
The new system will essentially work in the following way:


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Project
The new system is criticised because of its differences with the current system:


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Project
Initially designed to create a unique pension funds system in France, following the protest of the unions, the project has introduced 8 special plans for policemen, aeroplane pilots and stewards, train drivers, firemen, jailmen, truck drivers, fishermen and teachers. These plans were introduced to avoid strikes in critical sectors (police, air traffic) or to try to end ongoing strikes.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Project
French information website France 24 reported that women may be the "biggest losers" with the pension reform.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
Strikes began on 5 December 2019 as more than 30 unions launched strike actions with the intention to shut down the country and force President Emmanuel Macron to reevaluate his plans for pension reform. Actions resulted in the Eiffel Tower being shut down along with most of the light rail lines in Paris. 6000 police were deployed in Paris alone in anticipation of the protests, particularly around the Élysée Palace which was barricaded.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
The protests became violent in the east of Paris where protesters were seen lighting fires and smashing windows.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
The police reported 65,000 people had demonstrated in Paris, while the CGT labour union suggested 250,000 people had turned out. While across the country the Interior Ministry said more than 800,000 people were protesting the CGT said the figure was 1.5 million.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
Strikes and protests continued on 6 December as unions said there would be no let-up. While some schools reopened, almost all high-speed train services were cancelled, most of the Paris metro remained shut down, and hundreds of flights were cancelled.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
Transport across the country remained paralysed on 8 December as strikes by state rail company SNCF and Parisian public transport group RATP continued into their fourth day. Unions announced they were planning another large demonstration on 10 December.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
On 12 December French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe unveiled the government's proposal for raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 and harmonizing the 42 different retirement schedules. The next day, the CFDT announced that it would be calling for its members to join the demonstrations on 17 December.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
To protest against the loss of their special regime, ballerinas from the Paris Opera performed Swan Lake in frontcourt of Palais Garnier on 23 December.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
Union workers from the electricity company EDF conducted operations to cut power of symbolic companies such as Amazon or deputies from Emmanuel Macron's party LREM, while also performing "Robin Hood" operations to put electricity back on to homes unable to pay their bills.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
In Caen, on 8 January 2020, dozens of lawyers threw their robes in front of the ministry of justice Nicole Belloubet as a sign of protest. Lawyers are also on strike protesting against the destruction of their profitable pension regime.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
During union demonstrations, the level of violence exhibited by the police, as already condemned by the United Nations during the yellow vests demonstrations, was extremely high with videos allegedly reporting a police officer firing point-blank at the protesters with a riot control gun on 9 January.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Actions
On 25 January, French firefighters joined the protests. People rally on the street with Hong Kong anarchist flags, Antifa and Palestinian flags while together sang "L'Internationale" then shouted "Overthrow Capitalism! "; "Revolution now!" and there were several violent clashes with the police.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Conflicts of interests
Jean-Paul Delevoye, the High Commissioner for Pension Reforms, was revealed to be funded by the French Federation of Insurances, which has a direct interest in the pension reform. Moreover, being funded by a private company while being a member of the government is illegal according to the French constitution.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Conflicts of interests
Articles have also pointed out the proximity between Emmanuel Macron and BlackRock, one of the world's largest asset management funds, which is interested in having the billions of euros of the French pension fund enter the financial market. Multiple meetings between the French government and the firm's representatives have been reported. The promotion of the head of BlackRock's French branch, Jean-Francois Cirelli, to rank of officer of the Légion d'honneur also contributed to highlight this proximity.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Reactions
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe stated that the nationwide strikes would not weaken his resolve to reform the pension system. The workers and most unions are not backing off either.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Reactions
Polling indicated a strong support of the population in favour of the strikes. According to the conservative newspaper Le Figaro, on 19 December 55% of French people found the movement against the pension reform justified. Two weeks later, in what had become the longest French strike over the last 50 years, 61% still found the movement justified.


2019–2020 French pension reform strike, Reactions
Crowdfunding initiatives to support the strikes have flourished with a national one collecting more than 2 million euros.


2019–2020 Georgian protests
The 2019-2020 Georgian protests, also known as Gavrilov's Night or Protests in Georgia (Georgian: გავრილოვის ღამე), refers to a series of anti-government and fresh election-demanding protests in the country of Georgia.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, History
The protests began on June 20, 2019, in front of the Parliament of Georgia. The protests launched after Sergei Gavrilov (Russian: Сергей Анатольевич Гаврилов), a Communist Party member of the Russian Duma who was visiting through the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, sat in a chair reserved by protocol for the Head of Parliament. He delivered a speech in Russian extolling the Orthodox brotherhood of Georgia and Russia. Earlier that week, Gavrilov had voted in favor of the independence of Abkhazia.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, History
Following Gavrilov's actions, the Georgian opposition, mainly members of the European Georgia and United National Movement, blocked the speaker and called for protests that demanded the government's resignation. As night fell, protests escalated into clashes between riot police and a group of protesters near the parliament entrance, although the crowd was largely nonviolent. During the midnight hours, Georgian law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters without any prior warning. Approximately 240 demonstrators were injured and 305 protesters were arrested. At least two people experienced eye injuries and loss of vision due to rubber bullets, according to Giorgi Kordzakhiya, director of Tbilisi's New Hospital. The government accused protesters of attempting to storm the parliament building.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, History
Protests continued on next days demanding the resignation of government officials responsible for police actions, including the MIA of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia, and introduction of fully proportional election system instead of the existing semi-proportional. Protests calmed down after on June 24 the head of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, partly satisfied demands of protesters by announcing a change to the electoral system. However, minor protests continued demanding the resignation of Giorgi Gakharia.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, History
Major protests renewed on November 13 after the Georgian Dream failed the promised electoral reform. On November 18, 20,000 people gathered in the center of Tbilisi demanding the resignation of government. Protesters blocked entrance to parliament and prevented legislative session from taking place. Riot police dispersed protests using water cannon, resulting in injury of 4 protesters and 2 policemen. On November 25 police had to use water cannon again in order to clear the parliament entrance, leaving 3 protesters heavily injured.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Results
Following the protests of June 20–21, 2019, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia's Chairman of Parliament, announced his resignation. After mass demonstrations on June 24 in Tbilisi, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, announced a change to the electoral system from a mixed to proportional representation for the 2020 elections and lowering the vote barrier for parties.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Results
On June 26, Nika Melia, an opposition leader and United National Movement MP was charged with organizing, managing or participating in group violence during the protests. The Georgian parliament suspended his parliamentary immunity, allowing his detention if necessary. On June 28 he was released on bail. Court decision banned Melia from leaving home without previously informing law enforcers, making public statements in public areas and communicating with witnesses. His passport was confiscated and he was obliged to wear an electronic bracelet to be monitored.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Results
On July 4 Prosecutor's Office of Georgia classified events of June 20 as a "coup d'état".


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Reactions
Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree to suspend passenger flights carrying Russian citizens from Russia to Georgia, effective July 8. Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being increased quality controls on Georgian wine and mineral water, seen as linked to the escalation in tensions.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Reactions
President Salome Zourabichvili shortened her visit to Belarus to attend the opening ceremony of the 2019 European Games and to meet with President Alexander Lukashenko following the beginning of the protests. In an interview with Euronews, Zourabichvili called for a "de-escalation" in the situation while also blaming Russia for stirring up a "fifth column" in the country that is loyal to Moscow. Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev denied these claims by saying it is a "distortion of reality". Zourabichvili also called on Russian tourists affected by the travel ban to keep coming to Georgia because "They love Georgia" and that "politicians must solve the problems". Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized her remarks as "ultra-extremist" in a statement on June 25.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Reactions
In July 2019, Russia denounced an expletive-laden attack on Vladimir Putin by Georgian TV host Giorgi Gabunia during a broadcast on Rustavi 2.


2019–2020 Georgian protests, Reactions
On 8 September, Giorgi Gakharia became Prime Minister of Georgia. Between 14 and 25 November several Georgian dream MPs left the party, including 3 Conservative Party members consisting of: Zviad Dzidziguri, Gia Bukia and Nino Goguadze, Paata Kvijinadze remained in Georgian Dream however didn't leave the Conservatives, while Ruslan Gajiev defected to the Green Party and Mukhran Vakhtangadze to Georgian Dream proper. other MPs who left the party were: 1 member of the Green Party - Giorgi Begadze, along with 9 others, including – Tamar Chugoshvili, Tamar Khulordava, Mariam Jashi, Irina Pruidze, Dimitri Tskitishvili, Zaza Khutsishvili, Giorgi Mosidze, and Sofio Katsarava.


2019–2020 Guinean protests
The 2019–2020 Guinean protests, or the Front National Pour La Défense De La Constitution (FNDC), were a series of violent protests and mass civil unrest around Guinea against the rule of Alpha Conde that first broke out on 14 October 2019 against constitutional changes. More than 800 were killed in violent clashes and political scenes yet ethnic clashes and this spawned even further rhetoric, while the protesters still resisted despite the harsh repression. After the 2020 Guinean presidential election, widespread unrest took place, leading to the deaths of 27 protesters.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Background
In Guinea, political dissent has been silenced since the 2007 Guinean general strike, when 100 were killed. Hundreds of people have been arrested in separate cases of violence, such as the 2009 Guinea protests, 2013 Guinea clashes and many more. After a wave of unprecedented demonstrations against the results of the 2015 Guinean presidential election, 70 protesters were killed and more than 400 were arrested in six months of protests. In 2019, protesters had had enough with the government and a new bill allowing constitutional referendums and changes, so protesters started to rally.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Background, Slogans
The demonstrators are demanding in the first place the non-candidacy of Alpha Condé for a third term and the non-modification or the new constitution in Guinea. Crazy, Crazy, crazy, Go Away, Alpha Conde, No New Constitution Until You're Gone! is popular slogans during the popular movement and widespread demonstrations.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Background, Protests leading up to Constitutional Referendum
Protests against the referendum in the buildup to polling day led to the deaths of over 32 people between October 2019 to March 2020, with regular protests taking place in Conakry and other cities including Labé, Mamou, Boké or Nzérékoré.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Background, Protests leading up to Constitutional Referendum
During the protests, several government offices, schools and police stations were attacked with the aim of destroying voting materials. Some of the scenes that took place during that period included attackers entering a police station in Mamou and tearing up voter lists and ransacking boxes of electoral cards; two schools that were planned to be used as polling stations were set on fire; several administrative buildings in the north and southern part of the country were also set on fire; and in Labé, tyres were burnt in the streets and road barricades set up.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Background, Protests leading up to Constitutional Referendum
On September 18, 2021, four figures from the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) returned to Guinea. These fierce opponents of constitutional reform and Alpha Condé's candidacy for a third term had fled abroad. Almost two weeks after the coup, Ibrahima Diallo, Sékou Koundouno, rapper Djani Alfa and blogger Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté were greeted as heroes by a huge crowd in Conakry.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
Between 14 and 15 October, a wave of protests struck Conakry after president Alpha Conde changed the constitution. Five were killed in various protests. The protests spread like wildfire to nearly a dozen cities by 16 October. Mass political unrest spiralled out of control when abuses against the Folani tribe took place. Thousands of protesters threw stones at police and three were killed between 18 and 19 October. The unrest spread to Nzerekore, the country's third-largest city. Police fired live ammunition to disperse protesters. Anti -government chants demanded an end to the government.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
Tanks and soldiers stormed cities as nationwide strikes erupted. Between 20 and 28 October, various acts of civil disobedience took place and hundreds sang and chanted slogans against president Alpha Conde. Violence by police against tribes went on for four days. Anti -military protests and pro-democracy protests rose after the street protests erupted. Between 14 and 17 November, a wave of protests struck major cities nationwide. At least 100 were killed in the unrest after mid-October. Thousands rallied 19–24 November, demanding an end to corruption, shortages and poverty. Riots intimidated international donors and the media drew attention to the protests.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
Acts of violence rampaged through cities and poor suburbs in towns across Guinea as anti-government rallies spiraled out of control. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters and workers took to the streets, demanding better wages and pay-checks to resume. Economic turmoil and political crisis were among of the causes of the civil unrest. A conflict between protesters and the police occurred when blockades were broken down by the army, and security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least seven in December alone.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
For months hundreds of thousands of Guineans have taken to the streets for weekly protests against the prospect of Condé running for a third term. They chant the Susu phrase for “this will not happen”, the slogan of the protest movement, and burn car tyres. Many wear red T-shirts, armbands, hats and bandanas – the colour of the opposition coalition Front National Pour La Défense De La Constitution (FNDC).


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
Mass rallies occurred in Guinea on 16–17 January. Two were killed in the ensuing crackdown. On 30–31 January, mass protests killed four when thousands threw stones and chanted anti-government slogans against the prime minister. Police brutality complaints were filed in court. The 2020 Guinean constitutional referendum was met with five days of unprecedented demonstrations and intense clashes with the military, who fired live ammunition and killed at least thirteen. After the results were pulled out, opposition protesters took to the streets to demand an end to corruption scandals and the government and the resignation of president Alpha Conde. Between April–July 2020, strikes for better electricity gripped areas across the country, killing seven as electric supplies were cut off.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
After a nationwide lockdown banned protest actions and gatherings, hundreds defied the ban and took to the streets as a continuation of the protest movement. One person was injured as teargas was used to disperse protesters. Riot police stormed compounds and neighbourhoods on 20–31 July.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
After a break, nationwide rallies led by the opposition took place. Ten were killed in the pre-election protests demanding that president Alpha Conde should resign and not run for a third term in office in the 2020 Guinean presidential election.


2019–2020 Guinean protests, Protests
A series of nationwide anti-government strikes intensified after the announcement of the results of the 2020 Guinean presidential election. Protesters threw stones and pelted eggs, demanding democratic reforms and justice for those who had died due to political unrest, free elections and a new government led by the opposition. Four were killed by violence from military forces against strikers and protesters. After a week-long series of protests, protesters were calm after 23 were killed by police forces who attacked protesters and journalists calling on freedom and fair elections.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
A series of demonstrations, commonly known as the Anti- Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement (Chinese: 反對逃犯條例修訂草案運動), have been ongoing in Hong Kong since 15 March 2019 in response to the introduction by the Hong Kong government of the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill on extradition, which was later withdrawn in September 2019. The protests began with a sit-in at the government headquarters on 15 March 2019 and a demonstration attended by hundreds of thousands on 9 June 2019, followed by a gathering outside the Legislative Council Complex to stall the bill's second reading on 12 June.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
On 16 June, just one day after the Hong Kong government suspended the bill, an even bigger protest took place to push for its complete withdrawal and in reaction to the perceived excessive use of force by the Hong Kong Police Force on 12 June. As the protests progressed, activists laid out five key demands (see Objectives). Police inaction during the 2019 Yuen Long attack and 2019 Prince Edward station attack further escalated the protests.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
Lam withdrew the bill on 4 September, but refused to concede the other four demands. A month later, she invoked the emergency powers to implement an anti-mask law. Confrontations escalated and intensified. The storming of the Legislative Council in July 2019, the deaths of Chow Tsz-lok and Luo Changqing, the shooting of an unarmed protester, and the sieges of two universities in November 2019 were landmark events.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
After the conflict at Chinese University and siege of the Polytechnic University, the unprecedented landslide victory of the pro-democracy camp in the District Council election in November and the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 brought a little respite. Tensions mounted again in May 2020 after Beijing's decision to promulgate a national security bill for Hong Kong before September. The imposition of the new law caused widespread effect locally, more than a hundred have been arrested including prominent activists. The new political atmosphere in Hong Kong also sparked wave of mass migration.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
The approval ratings of the government and the police plunged to their lowest points since the 1997 handover. The Central People's Government alleged that foreign powers were instigating the conflict, although the protests have been largely described as "leaderless". The United States passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on 27 November 2019 in response to the protest movement.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
The tactics and methods used in Hong Kong inspired other protests that followed worldwide.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Direct cause
The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 was first proposed by the government of Hong Kong in February 2019 in response to the 2018 murder of Poon Hiu-wing by her boyfriend Chan Tong-kai in Taiwan, which the two Hongkongers were visiting as tourists.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Direct cause
As there is no extradition treaty with Taiwan (because the government of China does not recognise Taiwan's sovereignty), the Hong Kong government proposed an amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance () and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance () to establish a mechanism for case-by-case transfers of fugitives, on the order of the chief executive, to any jurisdiction with which the territory lacks a formal extradition treaty.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Direct cause
The inclusion of mainland China in the amendment was of concern to Hong Kong society; citizens, academics and the legal profession fear the removal of the separation of the region's jurisdiction from the legal system administered by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would erode the "one country, two systems" principle in practice since the 1997 handover; furthermore, Hong Kong citizens lack confidence in China's judiciary system and human rights protection due to its history of suppressing political dissent. Opponents of the bill urged the Hong Kong government to explore other mechanisms, such as an extradition arrangement solely with Taiwan, and to sunset the arrangement immediately after the surrender of the suspect.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Underlying causes
After the failure of the Umbrella Revolution in 2014 and the 2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, citizens began to fear the loss of the "high degree of autonomy" as provided for in the Hong Kong Basic Law, as the government of the People's Republic of China appeared to be increasingly and overtly interfering with Hong Kong's affairs. Notably, the NPCSC saw fit to rule on the disqualification of six lawmakers; fears over state-sanctioned rendition and extrajudicial detention were sparked by the Causeway Bay Books disappearances. Xi Jinping's accession to General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012 marked a more hardline authoritarian approach, most notably with the construction of Xinjiang internment camps. The spectre that Hong Kong may similarly be brought to heel became an important element in the protests.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Underlying causes
Anti -mainland sentiment had begun to swell in the 2010s. The daily quota of 150 immigrants from China since 1997, and the massive flows of mainland visitors strained Hong Kong's public services and eroded local culture; mainlanders' perceived arrogance drew the scorn of Hongkongers. The rise of localism and the pro-independence movement after the Umbrella Revolution was marked by the high-profile campaign for the 2016 New Territories East by-election by activist Edward Leung. Fewer and fewer young people in Hong Kong identified themselves as Chinese nationals, as found by pollsters at the University of Hong Kong.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Underlying causes
The younger respondents were, the more distrustful they were of the Chinese government. Scandals and corruption in China shook people's confidence of the country's political systems; the Moral and National Education controversy in 2012, the Express Rail Link project connecting Hong Kong with mainland cities and the subsequent co-location agreement proved highly controversial. Citizens saw these policies as Beijing's decision to strengthen its hold over Hong Kong. By 2019, almost no Hong Kong youth identified as Chinese.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Underlying causes
The polite Umbrella Revolution provided inspiration and brought about a political awakening to some, but its failure and the subsequent split within the pro-democratic bloc prompted a re-evaluation of strategy and tactics. In the years that followed, a general consensus emerged that peaceful and polite protests were ineffective in advancing democratic development, and became an example of what not to do in further protests. Media noted that protests in 2019 were driven by a sense of desperation rather than the optimism of 2014. The aims of the protests had evolved from withdrawing the bill, solidifying around achieving the level of freedom and liberties promised.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Background, Underlying causes
Economic factors were also an underlying cause of anger among Hongkongers. With powerful business cartels colluding with the government, Hong Kong suffers from income disparity and high housing prices. Youth, who have been pre-eminent in the protests, are frustrated by low social mobility and the lack of job opportunities. Many protesters in Hong Kong were under the age of 30, and had received tertiary education.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Objectives
Initially, protesters demanded only the withdrawal of the extradition bill. Following an escalation in the severity of policing tactics on 12 June 2019, the protesters' objective was to achieve the following five demands (under the slogan "Five demands, not one less"):


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Early large-scale demonstrations
After several minor protests in March and April 2019, the anti-extradition issue attracted more attention when pro-democratic lawmakers in the Legislative Council launched a filibuster campaign against the bill. In response, the Secretary of Security John Lee announced that the government would resume second reading of the bill in full council on 12 June 2019, bypassing the Bills Committee. With the possibility of a second reading of the bill, the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) launched their third protest march on 9 June.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Early large-scale demonstrations
While police estimated attendance at the march on Hong Kong Island at 270,000, the organisers claimed that 1.03 million people had attended the rally. Carrie Lam insisted second reading and debate over the bill be resumed on 12 June. Protesters successfully stopped the LegCo from resuming second reading of the bill by surrounding the LegCo Complex. Police Commissioner Stephen Lo declared the clashes a "riot"; police were subsequently criticised for using excessive force, such as firing tear gas at protesters at an approved rally, and for the lack of identification numbers on police officers' uniforms. Following the clashes, protesters began calling for an independent inquiry into police brutality; they also urged the government to retract the "riot" characterisation.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Early large-scale demonstrations
On 15 June, Carrie Lam announced the bill's suspension but did not fully withdraw it. The same day, Marco Leung Ling-Kit, a 35-year-old man, fell to his death after slipping on scaffolding and plunging 17 meters to his death whilst protesting Lam's decision and claims of police brutality. Ruled by an inquest jury as "death by misadventure", this accident formed a rallying point for the movement and his anti-extradition slogans later became the foundations for the "five demands" of the protests, and his yellow raincoat became one of the symbols of the protests. A protest on the following day had almost 2 million people participating according to an CHRF estimate, while the police estimated that there were 338,000 demonstrators at its peak. While Lam offered a personal apology on 18 June, she dismissed calls for her resignation.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
The CHRF claimed a record turnout of 550,000 for their annual march on 1 July 2019, while police estimated around 190,000 at the peak; an independent polling organisation estimated attendance at 260,000. The protest was largely peaceful. At night, partly angered by several more suicides since 15 June 2019, some radical protesters stormed into the Legislative Council; police took little action to stop them.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
After 1 July 2019, protests spread to different areas in Hong Kong such as Sheung Shui, Sha Tin and Tsim Sha Tsui. CHRF held another anti-extradition protest on 21 July on Hong Kong Island. Instead of dispersing, protesters headed for the Liaison Office in Sai Ying Pun, where they defaced the Chinese national emblem. While a standoff between the protesters and the police occurred on Hong Kong Island, groups of white-clad individuals, suspected triad members, appeared and indiscriminately attacked people inside Yuen Long station.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
Police were absent during the attacks, and the local police stations were shuttered, leading to suspicion that the attack was coordinated with police. Pro -Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho was later seen greeting members of the group, which led to accusations that he approved of the attack. The attack was often seen as the turning point for the movement, as it crippled people's confidence in the police and turned a lot of citizens who were politically neutral or apathetic against the police.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
A call for a general strike on 5 August was answered by about 350,000 people according to the Confederation of Trade Unions; over 200 flights had to be cancelled. Protests were held in seven districts in Hong Kong. Protesters in North Point were attacked by a group of stick-wielding men of Fujianese origin, leading to violent clashes.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
Various incidents involving alleged police brutality on 11 August—police shot bean bag rounds that ruptured the eye of a female protester, the use of tear gas indoors, the deployment of undercover police as agents provocateurs, and the firing of pepper ball rounds at protesters at a very close range—prompted protesters to stage a three-day sit-in at Hong Kong International Airport from 12 to 14 August, forcing the Airport Authority to cancel numerous flights.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
On 13 August, protesters at the airport cornered, tied up and assaulted two men they accused of being either undercover police or agents for the mainland, who were later identified as a tourist and a Global Times reporter. A peaceful rally was held in Victoria Park by the CHRF on 18 August to denounce police brutality. The CHRF claimed attendance of at least 1.7 million people. On 23 August, an estimated 210,000 people participated in the "Hong Kong Way" campaign to draw attention to the movement's five demands. The chain extended across the top of Lion Rock.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Storming of the Legislative Council and escalation
Ignoring a police ban, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong Island on 31 August following the arrests of high-profile pro-democracy activists and lawmakers the previous day. At night, the Special Tactical Squad (officially known as the Special Tactical Contingent) stormed Prince Edward station, where they beat and pepper-sprayed the commuters inside. Protesters rallied outside the Mong Kok police station in the following weeks to condemn police brutality and demanded the MTR Corporation release the CCTV footage of that night as rumours began to circulate on the internet that the police's operation had caused death, which they denied.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Decision to withdraw the extradition bill
On 4 September, Carrie Lam announced the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill once Legco reconvened in October and the introduction of additional measures to calm the situation. However, protests continued to push for the realisation of all five demands. During the month, protesters organised various flash rallies to sing the protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong". They continued their attempts to disrupt the airport's operations, and held pop-up mall protests, which targeted shops and corporations perceived to be pro-Beijing. Carrie Lam held the first public meeting in Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai with 150 members of the public. Protesters demanding to talk to her surrounded the venue, though Lam declined meeting with them.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Decision to withdraw the extradition bill
On 1 October 2019, mass protests and violent conflict occurred between the protesters and police in various districts of Hong Kong during the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This resulted in the first use of live rounds by police. One 18-year-old student protester was shot in the chest by police in Tsuen Wan. Carrie Lam invoked the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to impose a law to ban wearing face masks in public gatherings, attempting to curb the ongoing protests on 4 October. The law's enactment was followed by continued demonstrations in various districts of Hong Kong, blocking major thoroughfares, vandalising shops perceived to be pro-Beijing and paralysing the MTR system. Protests and citywide flash rallies persisted throughout the month.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Intensification and sieges of the universities
Protesters clashed with the police late at night on 3 November 2019. Alex Chow Tsz-lok, a 22-year-old student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), was later found unconscious on the second floor of the estate's car park. He died on 8 November following two unsuccessful brain surgeries. After his death, protesters engaged in flash rallies against the police and attended vigils in various districts of Hong Kong. They blamed the police for his death, though the police denied any involvement.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Intensification and sieges of the universities
In response to Chow's death, protesters planned a city-wide strike starting on 11 November by disrupting transport in the morning in various districts of Hong Kong. That morning, a policeman fired live rounds in Sai Wan Ho, wounding an unarmed 21-year-old. On 14 November, an elderly man named Luo Changqing died from a head injury which he had sustained the previous day during a confrontation between two groups of anti-government protesters and residents in Sheung Shui.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Intensification and sieges of the universities
For the first time, during a standoff on 11 November, police shot numerous rounds of tear gas, sponge grenades and rubber bullets into the campuses of universities, while protesters threw bricks and petrol bombs in response. Student protesters from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) confronted the police for two consecutive days. After the conflict, protesters briefly occupied several universities. A major conflict between protesters and police took place in Hung Hom on 17 November after protesters took control of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and blockaded the Cross-Harbour Tunnel.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Intensification and sieges of the universities
Thus began the siege of PolyU by police which ended with them storming onto the campus and arresting several protesters and volunteer medics in the early morning of 18 November. With PolyU under complete lockdown by police, protesters outside the campus attempted to penetrate police cordons to break through to those trapped inside but were repelled by police. Police action in Yau Ma Tei resulted in a stampede. More than 1,100 people were arrested in and around PolyU over the course of the siege. The siege was ended on 29 November.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Electoral landslide and COVID-19
The 24 November 2019 District Council election, considered a referendum on the government and the protests, attracted a record high voter turnout. The results saw the pro-democracy camp win by a landslide, with the pro-Beijing camp suffering their greatest electoral defeat in Hong Kong's history. The unprecedented electoral success of the pro-democracy voters, the mass arrests during the PolyU siege, and faster response by police contributed to a decrease in the intensity and frequency of the protests in December 2019 and January 2020. Despite this, the CHRF organised two marches to maintain pressure on the government on 8 December 2019 and 1 January 2020, attracting 800,000 protesters and 1,030,000 protesters respectively.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Electoral landslide and COVID-19
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China caused the number of large-scale rallies to dwindle further because of fears that they might facilitate the spread of the virus. Despite this, the pro-democratic movement's tactics were repurposed to pressure the government to take stronger actions to safeguard Hong Kong's public health in the face of the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong. Protesters demanded all mainland travellers be banned from entering Hong Kong. From 3 to 7 February 2020, hospital staff launched a labour strike with the same goal.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Electoral landslide and COVID-19
The strike was partially successful as Lam, despite rejecting a full border closure, only left three of the 14 crossing points with mainland China open. As the coronavirus crisis escalated in February and March 2020, the scale of the protests dwindled further. Police have used coronavirus laws banning groups of more than four, for example, to disperse protesters. On 18 April, police arrested 15 pro-democracy activists including Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee and Margaret Ng for their activities in 2019, drawing international condemnation. On 15 May, a 22-year-old young man surnamed Sin was sentenced to four years in prison for his participation in the 12 June protest, becoming the first person to be jailed for the charge of rioting since the protest movement started.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Implementation of the national security law
On 21 May 2020, state media announced that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) would begin drafting a new law that covers "secession, foreign interference, terrorism and subversion against the central government", to be added into the Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law. This meant that the law would come into effect through promulgation, bypassing local legislation.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Implementation of the national security law
The UK, along with Australia, Canada, and the US, also issued a joint statement expressing their deep concern regarding the National Security Law on 28 May as they deemed that the law breached the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermined the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle. Despite international pressure, the NPCSC passed the national security legislation that day.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Implementation of the national security law
The draft sparked increased protests: the mass march on 24 May in Causeway Bay was the largest protest since the beginning of the pandemic, as civilians responded to online calls to march against both the National Anthem Bill and the proposed national security law. On 27 May at least 396 people were arrested during a day-long protest; most of the arrested were taken into custody even before any protest actions had begun.


2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, History, Implementation of the national security law
On 30 June, the NPCSC passed the national security law unanimously, without informing the public and the local officials of the content of the law. The law created a chilling effect in the city. Demosistō, which had been involved in lobbying for other nations' support, and several pro-independent groups announced that they had decided to disband and cease all operations, fearing that they would be the targets of the new law. Thousands of protesters showed up on 1 July to protest against the newly implemented law. On that day, the police arrested at least ten people for breaching national security as they deemed that individuals who displayed or possessed flags, placards and phone stickers with protest slogans or other protest art have already committed the crime of "subverting the country".