French pensioners protest: Paris bans gatherings near key sites to quell riots
Paris police have banned gatherings in urban areas around important government sites to end anti-government protests. plan of france raise the state retirement age by two years without a vote.
“Due to the serious risk of disturbing public order and security … any gathering in and around the Place de la Concorde, as well as in the Champs Elysées area, is prohibited,” the police said. AFP report. “People who try to gather there will be systematically evicted by the police.”
President of France Emmanuel Macron decided to push through a new law that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, using article 49.3 of the constitution, which allows him to pass legislation without a parliamentary vote. His decision proved highly unpopular, sparking nationwide protests.
Demonstrators gathered in the cities including Bordeaux, Marseille and other places as they continue to demand a vote that Macron doesn’t seem sure will pass.
FRANCE PENSION PROTESTS: KEVIN HASSET VIOLATES SPORTS PENSION REFORM LAW
Demonstrators hold banners as they gather at the Place de la Concorde near the National Assembly, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, in protest after French Prime Minister Elisabeth Born gave a speech announcing the use of article 49.3, a special clause in the French constitution, to push through a bill on pension reform through the lower house of parliament without a vote of legislators, in Paris, France, March 16, 2023. (Reuters/Pascal Rossignol)
Despite the Paris ban, the protests continued on Saturday anyway, gathering instead in the Les Halles shopping district in central Paris, Politico reported.
A protester holds a clipping of French President Emmanuel Macron by a fire during a demonstration at Place de la Concorde to protest the French government’s use of article 49.3, a special clause of the French constitution, to push through a pension reform bill. National Assembly without a vote of legislators in Paris, France on March 17, 2023 (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)
More than eight out of ten people are dissatisfied with the government. decision to skip voting in parliament, and 65% want strikes and protests to continue, a poll by Toluna Harris Interactive for RTL radio showed.
French gendarmes and CRS special forces take positions around a campfire as demonstrators gather at the Place de la Concorde near the National Assembly in Paris, France March 16, 2023. (Reuters/Lucien Liebert)
The protests spanned several vital industriesincluding oil refineries, garbage collection and railways, according to The Guardian.
CGT union leader Philippe Martinez stressed that the group had made it clear to Macron that the protests would continue as long as he implemented his plan to pierce the legislation.
Gendarmerie members stand guard during a demonstration at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France on March 17, 2023. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)
“No one can say we didn’t say anything: we told him,” Martinez said, adding that “the situation was explosive.”
DUTCH HOSPITALS GO ON 24-HOUR STRIKE FOR 10% WAGE HIGH AND BETTER CONDITIONS
The street protests were mostly peaceful, but on Friday evening there were clashes between police and demonstrators, with 61 people arrested after a fire was lit near the National Assembly. The demonstrators chanted “Macron, resign!” when they fended off the riot police line.
A demonstrator throws a projectile during clashes during a protest after French Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne used Article 49.3, a special clause of the French constitution, to push a pension reform bill through the National Assembly without a vote from lawmakers, in Nantes, France. March 16, 2023 (Reuters/Stefan Mahe)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
More than 300 people have been arrested across the country, 258 of them in the National Assembly area in recent days.
A broad alliance of France’s main trade unions said they would continue to try to bring about a reversal of change.
Reuters contributed to this report.