ISLAMABAD/PARIS: Protesters clashed with police in central Paris over the pension reform decree issued by the French government.
Thousands of protesters lit fires and some ended up throwing firecrackers at police, who used tear gas to expel them. It is the second night of instability since President Emmanuel Macron decided to push through the controversial reforms to increase the retirement age without a vote from 62 to 64. In response, no-confidence motions have been filed against his government.
The first was signed by members of parliament’s left-wing Nupes coalition and independents, while the far-right National Rally party signed the second. Both are scheduled for debate early next week. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally MPs in parliament, called the decision to push through the pension changes “a complete failure for the government”.
Place de la Concorde during the unrest, near the parliament building, police arrested dozens of people. Protests were also held in other French cities on Friday, including Bordeaux, Toulon, and Strasbourg.
One demonstrator told AFP that they would not give up and that there is still hope that the reform will be repealed. According to another source, pushing the legislation through without a vote was “a denial of democracy to
French government’s statement
The government has stated that pension changes were necessary to keep the system from becoming overburdened and collapsing. Many people, including union members, disagree, and the issue has sparked more than two months of heated political debate and strikes in France. Transport, schools and public services have all been disrupted, and thousands of tonnes of garbage have been left on the streets of the capital due to a rolling strike by waste collectors.
Fuel deliveries have also been halted, and a large refinery in Normandy is set to shut down in the coming days.
