Radical protesters clashed again with security forces in several French cities yesterday in yet another expression of anger against pension law reforms enacted by President Emmanuel Macron. Dozens of people were arrested, some of them for setting fire to one of the head of state’s favorite restaurants.
Although the number of demonstrators has decreased, the unions want to keep up the pressure. At the same time, Macron is out of the country, visiting China, in the midst of the most critical moment of his second term in office. Despite the drop in popularity ratings, it refuses to budge.
Around 570,000 people demonstrated across France yesterday, according to the Interior Ministry – far fewer than the 740,000 counted last week. However, these numbers are lower than organizers’ estimates, with trade union centers speaking of “nearly two million” across the country. In Paris alone, the CGT union claims 400,000 people – while the ministry registered only 93,000.
In the capital, some radical protesters threw paint at police shields next to La Rotonde, a famous Parisian beer hall frequented by Macron and where the French president celebrated his victory in the 2017 presidential election. An AFP journalist spotted a group of black-clad men set off fireworks and throw stones at the restaurant. The fire was ignited using a torch thrown onto the establishment’s canopy, forcing firefighters to intervene.
In another part of Paris, protesters vandalized a bank branch, broke windows and took files and computer keyboards. Some threw projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas. There are reports of injuries among officers.
Elsewhere in the capital, a group of striking railway workers also raided the headquarters of multinational investment firm BlackRock.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter that 111 people were arrested nationwide and 154 police officers were injured, some seriously.
Source: DN
