France protests turn violent after talks between unions and PM fail

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Apr 2023 15:33
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Protests in multiple French cities have become violent after Emmanuel Macron's government insists on pushing the retirement age from 62 to 64.

French railway workers storm Centorial building, which is house to US BlackRock offices in Paris, lighting up flares in protests of their government's pension reform plan,France, 6 April 2023. (AP)

Protesters clashed with French security forces on Thursday, objecting to the pension reforms undertaken by Macron's government.

Demonstrations against the government's decision took a violent turn in France, as protesters stormed private company buildings and set fire to Emmanuel Macron’s favorite restaurant.

American investment firm BlackRock’s headquarters were also stormed and surrounded in Paris by striking railway workers who held up red flares inside the building.

🔴 Les cheminots envahissent la multinationale #BlackRock contre la réforme des retraites. #greve6avril pic.twitter.com/L4wxsR025E
— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) April 6, 2023

Protesters also targeted La Rotonde in Paris, which is a famous brasserie that President Emanuel Macron frequently visits.

Heavily armored policemen were stationed in front of the restaurant to protect it as angry citizens hurled flares and fireworks at the restaurant, which led to a small fire on the outer curtains of the bistro.

A bank branch in the capital was also attacked, glass shielding the offices was shattered and files, computers, and keyboards were looted from the site.

Police retaliated with tear gas in an attempt to disperse the enraged French citizens in the area, who threw projectiles at the officers.

In the city of Nantes, demonstrators also clashed with police officers. While others in the city of Nancy set fire to the front entrance of the local branch of the French Central Bank.

Numbers of protesters dwindling

French authorities announced via Twitter, that 111 people were arrested and 154 police officers were wounded as a result of the events.

The number of people taking part in the movement has dwindled over the past few days, as reported by French authorities.

The Interior Ministry reported a 23% decrease in demonstrators as numbers went down from 740,000 reported last week to 570,000 counted on Thursday.

A huge gap exists between official figures and the CGT union’s figures who claimed that 400,000 people showed up to demonstrations in Paris while the government reported 93,000.

Macron is currently on the final day of his planned visit to China, where he raised the issue of the war in Ukraine during a meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People.

The French president faces a huge challenge back home where rallies against the pension reform in France continue amidst French Unions' disapproval of the governmental decision.

The Unions met with the French Prime Minister on Wednesday but the government official refused to even discuss going back on the executive order which raises the age of retirement from 62 to 64 in the country.

The unions have pushed for further mobilization in the upcoming days. However, it seems that the French workers are less engaged.

On Thursday the Paris metro system experienced minimal disruptions and only 25% of the high-speed train trips were canceled.

The Education Ministry reported that only 8% of teachers were on strike on Thursday.

The French Unions called for another day of protests on April 13, and are keen on maintaining pressure against the French government’s decision as a key court ruling on the pension overhaul is expected to be taken next week.