05:29France: Clashes erupt outside National Assembly during protests against pension reform
French Riot police clashed with anti-pension protesters and fired tear gas as a fresh demonstration occurred in Paris outside the National Assembly against the government's proposal to increase the state pension age, on Friday.
Footage shows protesters marching and chanting while holding placards reading ‘Let's eat the pigs’, ‘Macron Retreats, It is, No!’ and ‘Macron is afraid’. Protesters can also be seen throwing projectiles at police vans and riot police, shooting fireworks. Riot police arrested some of the protesters and used tear gas to disperse them.
According to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 310 people were arrested overnight and most of them were in Paris.
On the same day, Macron decided to use executive privilege to pass his pension reforms without a vote in the National Assembly.
The Senate passed the proposals by 193-144, which increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.
However, the vote in the lower house, the National Assembly, was withdrawn at the last minute, with the result believed to be too close to call.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne then announced the triggering of Article 49.3, the special constitutional power, to pass the legislation.
Regular demonstrations and strikes against the bill have taken place in recent months, with rallies expected to intensify following the use of executive power.
05:29French Riot police clashed with anti-pension protesters and fired tear gas as a fresh demonstration occurred in Paris outside the National Assembly against the government's proposal to increase the state pension age, on Friday.
Footage shows protesters marching and chanting while holding placards reading ‘Let's eat the pigs’, ‘Macron Retreats, It is, No!’ and ‘Macron is afraid’. Protesters can also be seen throwing projectiles at police vans and riot police, shooting fireworks. Riot police arrested some of the protesters and used tear gas to disperse them.
According to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 310 people were arrested overnight and most of them were in Paris.
On the same day, Macron decided to use executive privilege to pass his pension reforms without a vote in the National Assembly.
The Senate passed the proposals by 193-144, which increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.
However, the vote in the lower house, the National Assembly, was withdrawn at the last minute, with the result believed to be too close to call.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne then announced the triggering of Article 49.3, the special constitutional power, to pass the legislation.
Regular demonstrations and strikes against the bill have taken place in recent months, with rallies expected to intensify following the use of executive power.