Published: Just now
The protests against the pension reform continue in several large French cities.
Furious protesters have thrown dead rats at a city hall and set fire to President Macron’s favorite restaurant.
During Friday, the unions call for new protests.
The protests against the government’s plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 show no signs of abating.
On Thursday, as the protests entered their eleventh day, 570,000 French people gathered for demonstrations in several French cities, according to authorities.
According to the union, there were as many as two million, reports Le Figaro.
From Paris, Lyon and Nantes came reports of violent clashes between police and demonstrators. They blocked roads, train stations and airports.
11,500 police officers were deployed
In Paris, protesters threw bottles, cobblestones and bags of cement at riot police. A woman was injured after being hit by flying objects.
Protesters also set fire to an awning at La Rotonde restaurant, one of Macron’s favorite restaurants where he celebrated his 2017 election victory. However, the fire was quickly extinguished.
Rat catchers threw dead rats at the town hall, according to a union representative “to show the harsh reality of their tasks”.
In Nantes, violence between police and protesters lasted for three hours. Protesters threw objects at the police who responded with tear gas.
11,500 police officers, including 4,200 of those in Paris, were deployed to deal with the nationwide protests.
The criticism of Macron: Totally disconnected
111 people have been arrested by the police in connection with the protests and 154 police officers have been injured. According to the AFP news agency, an unknown number of protesters were injured.
Earlier this week, trade unions met for talks with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to try to reach a solution, something that failed.
The general secretary of the CGT union described Macron’s government as “totally disconnected” from the country and as having gone to bed with a bunker mentality. During Friday, trade unions have to new protests.
President Macron is currently on a state visit to China with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.