03:13France: Protesters barricade the streets, clash with riot police in Paris as rallies against Macron’s pension reform continue
Protesters gathered and barricaded the streets of Paris to continue protesting against the French government’s pension reform, on Thursday.
Footage features smoke rising from the burning debris and rubbish bins on the streets. Protesters could also be seen rallying, chanting, waving flags, smashing windows and holding placards reading ‘Work less to live longer’ and ‘Democracy’.
According to Interior Minister Geral Drmanin, 123 police officers had been injured and 80 people arrested throughout the country. French police also announced that around 1,000 people acted “violently”, set fires, shot smoke bombs and damaged property.
On Monday, French lawmakers narrowly rejected a no-confidence motion in the government by just nine votes. A second, introduced by the right-wing 'National Rally', also failed to pass by a much larger margin.
The motions were put forward after the government decided to force its plan to raise the retirement age, from 62 to 64, through the National Assembly without a vote last Thursday.
While it passed in the upper house, President Emmanuel Macron’s administration used the executive power with numbers in the lower house making the vote too close to call.
Protests have taken place since the changes were announced earlier this year, and have intensified across the country in the past few days.
03:13Protesters gathered and barricaded the streets of Paris to continue protesting against the French government’s pension reform, on Thursday.
Footage features smoke rising from the burning debris and rubbish bins on the streets. Protesters could also be seen rallying, chanting, waving flags, smashing windows and holding placards reading ‘Work less to live longer’ and ‘Democracy’.
According to Interior Minister Geral Drmanin, 123 police officers had been injured and 80 people arrested throughout the country. French police also announced that around 1,000 people acted “violently”, set fires, shot smoke bombs and damaged property.
On Monday, French lawmakers narrowly rejected a no-confidence motion in the government by just nine votes. A second, introduced by the right-wing 'National Rally', also failed to pass by a much larger margin.
The motions were put forward after the government decided to force its plan to raise the retirement age, from 62 to 64, through the National Assembly without a vote last Thursday.
While it passed in the upper house, President Emmanuel Macron’s administration used the executive power with numbers in the lower house making the vote too close to call.
Protests have taken place since the changes were announced earlier this year, and have intensified across the country in the past few days.