It will be an unprecedented device, the senior official told the press, noting that authorities foresee “significant risks and public order problems.”
The Intersindical, a movement bringing together the main French unions, has called for a new national day of protests and strikes for this Tuesday, in opposition to the reform and the government’s refusal to reverse its project, which was approved without a vote a week ago parliamentarians, fueling dissatisfaction.
Referring to the prevailing tense context, exacerbated by clashes between protesters and police, Darmanin explained that law enforcement agencies have faced extremely aggressive actions in recent days.
According to the minister, since March 16, there have been 114 acts of vandalism against property, 128 against public buildings, 2,179 voluntary fires and 891 police officers and gendarmes injured.
We solemnly call for calm, he said after citing information about the possible presence tomorrow of a thousand radical elements, some from abroad, accused of taking part in an ecological protest in Sainte-Soline on Saturday in which demonstrators and gendarmes were seriously injured.
Darmanin denounced the existence of individuals intent on destabilizing the institutions and bringing France under “fire and blood”.
The government insists on the use of force by protesters, but opponents, unions and social organizations are demanding it stop the excessive use of force by agents during the demonstrations, which have been recorded on video and audio.
According to the internal control body, the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), 17 investigations into suspected violence by uniformed officers are ongoing.
For her part, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, issued a statement last week expressing concern at the excessive use of force by the French authorities against demonstrators and calling on the government to respect the right to protest.
jcm/wmr