How French riot police deal with strikers: Officers with batons crack down on protesters and use tear gas in Paris as the “Black Thursday” industrial action over pension reforms escalates into violence
- The riot police were called into action in Paris because of strikes against the pension reform
- Thousands of people took part in the “Black Thursday” demonstrations in France
- Anarchists calling themselves “Black Bloc” were accused of turning on officers
A “Black Thursday” of demonstrations and strikes against pension reform erupted in violence in France today.
The worst problems were in Paris, where demonstrators around Bastille Square engaged in ongoing battles with the police.
Anarchists calling themselves “Black Bloc” were accused of infiltrating a planned march and then turning on officers.
“They started throwing rocks and other projectiles,” said an officer at the scene, adding that as of 5:30 p.m., there had been arrests.
As violence escalated, police used tear gas and batons to try to restore order.
Unions predicted that a million people across France would mobilize to fight against measures to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030.
Mass demonstrations took place in France today against pension reforms that would raise the retirement age to 64
Riot policeman grabs a protester during a demonstration against pension changes
Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel said: “On Thursday the walls of the Élysée Palace must tremble.”
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, in turn, promised to take action against potential rioters, saying: “More than 10,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized, including 3,500 in Paris.”
Meanwhile, cross-channel ferries, airports, commuter trains and buses have all been hit by strikes, while schools and colleges have also been closed.
According to new proposals from the Paris parliament, people will have to work two more years to receive a full pension.
This was hailed by President Emmanuel Macron as essential to protecting France’s hugely expensive system.
Anarchists calling themselves “Black Bloc” were accused of infiltrating a planned march and then turning on officers
Thousands take part in a demonstration against pension reforms in Paris today
He was at a meeting in Spain where he welcomed “democratic protest” but said any uproar would be met with “the full force of the law”.
His pension reform ideas have proved deeply unpopular, with 68% saying they oppose it, according to an IFOP poll this week.
All of the country’s trade unions have condemned the measure, as have the left-wing and far-right opposition parties in the National Assembly.
Mr. Macron’s Renaissance party has no parliamentary majority and so must rely on the support of around 60 conservative Republican lawmakers to push his pension reform through.
With the parliamentary process taking several weeks, Mr Macron faces an ongoing opposition campaign.
President Macron said he welcomed “democratic protest” but said any uproar would be met with “the full force of the law”.
Most other European countries have taken steps to raise the official retirement age, which is currently 66 in the UK.
President Macron made an earlier attempt to reform the system in 2019 but scrapped it because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the seventh attempt at pension reform in France since Socialist President François Mitterrand lowered the retirement age to 60 in 1982.
Each subsequent attempt to undo this change has drawn massive resistance from the streets.
In 2010, despite weeks of mass protests, conservative Nicolas Sarkozy raised the retirement age to 62.