Clashes Break Out As France Sees Renewed Protests against Pension Reforms (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A protest against government pension reforms turned violent in the French city of Rennes on Tuesday, as riot police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
Tens of thousands of people took part in strikes and protests across France as a response to the government's pension reforms. The demonstrations follow last month's protests which saw around 1.2 million people take to the streets of France's major cities, according to figures from the French Interior Ministry.
The latest round of protests comes as the parliament debates President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reform bill, which aims to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. In Rennes, a group of around 200 individuals refused to disperse after a planned parade and faced off against police officers. The group erected barricades and set them on fire, leading to tear gas being used by police and 13 arrests made. One police officer was injured.
In Paris, the left-wing CGT trade union reported that around 400,000 people marched, while the Interior Ministry put the attendance at 80,000. The demonstration in Paris was described as "peaceful" and "festive" by French media. Rallies over pension reforms remain a subject of tension.
