Mass demonstration against pension reform in France
More than a million French protested again against the pension reform on Thursday afternoon. The Interior Ministry spoke of almost 1.1 million people, the CGT union of 3.5 million. There were also clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
During what is now the ninth nationwide day of protest, train stations, refineries and ports were blocked, and local and long-distance connections were lost. Part of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris was also blocked.
French police said about 120,000 people took part in the demonstration in Paris, but the CGT union put the number of protesters in that city at 800,000.
Violence also broke out, and police forces clashed with protesters and used tear gas to disperse them.
The Agence-France-Presse also announced that rubbish bins and newspaper kiosks were set on fire in the streets of Paris.
Media sources reported the fire in front of the Bordeaux City Council building.
According to the French Interior Ministry, 123 police officers were injured and 80 demonstrators arrested in the clashes on Thursday.
The protests are directed against the gradual increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 and the actions of the government under President Macron. This had pushed through the pension reform with the help of a constitutional article bypassing the National Assembly.
