Paris police have banned demonstrations at two of the centers of protests against the pension reform approved by the French government, pressured by Macron.
In the last two nights, the French have taken to the streets to protest against the fact that the government has resorted to a law that forces the approval of the increase in the pension from 62 to 64 years. More than 300 people were arrested across the country – the majority (258) in Place de la Concorde in Paris, opposite the French parliament.
“Due to the serious risk of disturbances to public order and security, any gathering on Place de la Concorde and adjacent areas, as well as on Avenue Champs-Elysées is prohibited,” it says in a statement quoted by AFP, in which the police warn that “any attempts at rallies will be systematically avoided by the police”.
The warning did not stop demonstrators from taking to the streets and looking for other places in the city to continue the protests that have marked the political life of France in recent weeks. On Saturday morning, around 300 people gathered in the eastern city of Besancon. Among them, a young woman who caught the attention of an AFP reporter by setting her voter registration card on fire.
“I elected my member of parliament, but he was deprived of his right to vote. We are experiencing a denial of democracy”, lamented Nathalie.
Already in the early afternoon, critics of the increase in the retirement age were concentrated in the commercial area of Les Halles, in central Paris, and there are other demonstrations under way all over the country – and the unions promise to go out again at streets this week.
