Thousands of people across France continue to demonstrate tonight against the reform of the pension system forced by President Emmanuel Macron two days ago, overriding a possible vote in Parliament. According to the French media, there were moments of tension especially in Nantes (north-west), where around 6,000 people took to the streets and in some places erected barricades setting fire to bins and other objects, and in Rennes (north) where a thousand of people were left stranded in a shopping center after a student demonstration attempted to raid the complex.
Several police charges against demonstrators took place in Paris, in the 13th arrondissement. Initially, a small group of protesters was supposed to gather at the CGT Ile-de-France regional union rally at the Place d’Italie. But their number has grown to around 4,000 as protesters who were supposed to attend the Place de la Concorde demonstration, eventually banned by the police prefecture, traveled there. Due to the presence of many hooligans, the organizing unions asked the demonstrators to disperse. The first interventions by the police took place to stop the troublemakers who tried to create barricades and set fire to garbage cans. However, no serious accidents have been reported.
Paris, protests against the pension reform
The authorities banned any gathering on the large Place de la Concorde, near the National Assembly and the presidential palace of the Elysée, were fears of a radicalization of the protest after the clashes that occurred on Thursday and Friday evening.
Meanwhile, according to Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, the government is not destined to fall. After the presentation of no-confidence motions, speaking to Le Parisien, the minister said he did not believe that “there will be a majority to bring down the executive”. “Is the pension reform worth, yes or no, the fall of the government and the political chaos? The answer is clearly no”, he explained, inviting “everyone” to “assume their responsibilities” during the vote on the two motions, which will take place on Monday .
“Let’s hope Republicans regain their sanity,” he said, hailing the “courage” and “consistency” of some ‘Republicains’ MPs while “others have lost their bearings.”
