Nearly a thousand protesters detained in France since Thursday
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Earlier today, media reports said that riot police used tear gas on protesters at an oil refinery at Fos-sur-Mer.
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French police officers face oil workers as they block access to an oil depot in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France, Tuesday, March 21, 2023 (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Nearly a thousand protesters have been detained in France in light of overwhelming demonstrations that have been erupting all across the country since late January due to the government's controversial pension reform which was passed without a vote from Parliament on March 16.
According to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, the number of demonstrators detained over the past five days has surpassed 850.
"Since Thursday, 855 people have been detained in France, including 729 in Paris. Some 843 people have been placed in custody," the Minister told BFMTV broadcaster.
Earlier today, media reports said that riot police used tear gas on protesters at an oil refinery at Fos-sur-Mer.
Protesters were reportedly attempting to block access to the oil depot and had gathered to support the forced-to-work strikers on site, sources reported, noting that three police officers were injured as a result of the clashes.
Massive protests (pension reform) are heating up at a oil depot being blocked in France. Tear gas is being used but the protesters are not backing down⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️
— Rebel CQWGIRL 🇺🇸❣🇺🇸 (@RebelCQWGIRL) March 21, 2023
Most of the media is in blackout refusing to cover these protests.https://t.co/wYdIjQwrV4 pic.twitter.com/rfbWqZJT8c
Read more: Iran lambasts French police over excessive violence against protesters
Tear gas was also used on protesters who had gathered at the Place de la Republique, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
Firecrackers and glass bottles were reportedly thrown at the riot police, videos on social media showed.
🔥 Escalation of AntiMacron protests in France;
— hasneen (@hasneen95424606) April 26, 2022
After police stormed civilians, citizens retaliated with a barrage of glass bottles and stones and repulsed a police attack#French pic.twitter.com/AkI6bvPPLm
On March 17, French President Emmanuel Macron faced intensified protests and accusations of anti-democratic behavior after pushing through the contentious pension reform without a parliamentary vote.
Using a special constitutional power to pass legislation without a vote amounted to an admission that the government lacked a majority to hike the retirement age from 62 to 64.
"We can't take the risk of seeing 175 hours of parliamentary debate come to nothing," French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told MPs as she announced the move amid boos from opposition MPs, who also sang the national anthem.
So far, there has been eight nationwide strikes and hundreds of demonstrations held all across the country since January 19.
According to Darmanin, the upcoming nationwide demonstration will take place in France on March 23, to which 12,000 police officers will be deployed, with 5,000 in Paris.
Darmanin added that over 300 police officers have sustained injuries as a result of the clashes over the past two months.
Read more: Seventy people detained in Paris during pension reform protests
