It was erected by the participants of the metropolitan demonstration against the pension reform. In their march in the streets and boulevards of the city sur Seine, according to the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), one of the eight trade union centers which led the current protest movement, 700,000 people took part. As usual, the Home Office then released its own figure, and it’s an order of magnitude lower – just over 80,000.
Approximately the same picture in other cities of the country. In Marseille, according to the unions, the protest march attracted 245,000 citizens (32,000 counted the authorities). In Nantes, in western France, there were more than 30,000, in Normandy Caen – 24,000. In total, mass protests took place in almost 300 large and small French cities.The organizers of this large-scale action bet big on it and, in their deep conviction, were a resounding success. Now they are asking the government to drop the bill that has caused a veritable social tsunami in the country. Especially when we know that in all the polls, more than two thirds of French people are against the liberal reform which, according to them, will strike a blow to one of the foundations of the social security system created after the Second World War.
It must be said that the sixth day of protest was not without violent clashes between the police and aggressive groups among the radicals, as well as the “yellow vests” who infiltrated the columns of demonstrators.In Paris, the skirmishes, starting halfway through the march, continued until the final point – Place d’Italie. Along the way, the arrogant guys smashed billboards, bank windows, bus stops and other “city furniture”. They crushed asphalt, twisted cobblestones, dismantled scaffolding, and it all flew at the police. They responded with tear gas, stun grenades and batons. In the capital, according to incomplete estimates, more than two dozen radicals were arrested.Something similar happened in other cities. Thus, in Rennes (this is Brittany), as appears from the press release from the local prefect, 400 individuals subject to violence took part in the clashes. They erected barricades of garbage containers, set them on fire, threw smoke bombs, bottles, bottles of paint. The police even had to use a water cannon to disperse the unbridled public. There were also arrests.It was also hot in Lyon, where 50,000 people demonstrated (half according to the authorities). And there were fights with the police. As a result, 35 Azhans were more or less seriously injured and a dozen protesters were arrested.In the meantime, it has already been announced that the next national strike is scheduled for next Saturday, March 11.
