France: violence in Rennes, burning cars and tear gas

More violence in the capital of Brittany, in Rennes, at the protest demonstrations against the pension reform. In the city, where the door of a police station was set on fire yesterday, the situation escalated in mid-afternoon and the police gave the order to disperse the procession. Officers charged and used tear gas against protesters who threw objects, stones and even "excrement" at them, according to local news site Actu Rennes. The dispersal order was given after repeated acts of vandalism at the end of the procession and after a car was set on fire.

The head of the Elysée was interrupted by some demonstrators as he was about to deliver a speech on the future of Europe. Macron was attacked on "democracy" and pensions: "Where is French democracy?", "The climate convention is not respected", shouted the demonstrators from the stands as they unfurled a banner on which was written in English "President of the violence and hypocrisy“. “It is very important to have a social debate,” replied the French head of state when he was able to resume speaking after a minute's interruption. “I can answer all the questions about what we are discussing in France”, “this is a democracy and a democracy is exactly a place where you can demonstrate” and see “this type of intervention”, he said. Then he was able to begin his “official” speech at the Nexus Institute. Europe must assert its sovereignty, which “does not mean that we will distance ourselves from our allies but that we will choose our allies and our partners. Instead of being witnesses, we must be decision makers." “We need reciprocity” and “fair trade” within the EU and between the 27 with partners”.