Desk Report,
Budget cuts in France: Protesters call for ‘blockade of everything’, 200 arrested
Protests have erupted in France against politicians and planned budget cuts. Protesters called for a “blockade of everything” across the country on Wednesday. Protesters blocked traffic in various cities in France. They also clashed with police. About 200 people were arrested.
Budget cuts in France: Protesters call for ‘blockade of everything’, 200 arrested
Many of the protesters expressed their anger at French President Emmanuel Macron. Last Monday, his preferred Prime Minister, François Bayrou, had to resign in a vote of confidence in parliament over the budget. As a result, Macron had to choose his fifth prime minister in less than two years. He is currently in a politically unstable position. Fred, a representative of the protesters, was at the protest in Paris. Demanding Macron’s resignation, he said, “It’s the same story, the same situation. It’s not just the ministers, the problem is Macron himself. The ministers are also the problem. But Macron and his way of working are more problematic. That’s why he has to go.’
Police fired tear gas at protesters blocking the entrance to a school in Paris during protests today. Police said they had stopped a group of protesters trying to enter a train station in the city. French officials said security forces had been deployed across the country to quell the blockade. French Interior Minister Bruno Retayo told reporters that protesters had set fire to a bus in the western French city of Rennes. Some protesters attacked police with heavy concrete blocks. He warned that “radical and far-left groups” could infiltrate the remaining demonstrations later in the day and turn violent.
Protests have erupted in France against politicians and planned budget cuts. Protesters called for a “blockade of everything” across the country on Wednesday. Protesters blocked traffic in various cities in France. They also clashed with police. About 200 people were arrested.
Many of the protesters expressed their anger at French President Emmanuel Macron. Last Monday, his preferred Prime Minister, François Bayrou, had to resign in a vote of confidence in parliament over the budget. As a result, Macron had to choose his fifth prime minister in less than two years. He is currently in a politically unstable position. Fred, a representative of the protesters, was at the protest in Paris. Demanding Macron’s resignation, he said, “It’s the same story, the same situation. It’s not just the ministers, the problem is Macron himself. The ministers are also the problem. But Macron and his way of working are more problematic. That’s why he has to go.’
Police fired tear gas at protesters blocking the entrance to a school in Paris during protests today. Police said they had stopped a group of protesters trying to enter a train station in the city. French officials said security forces had been deployed across the country to quell the blockade. French Interior Minister Bruno Retayo told reporters that protesters had set fire to a bus in the western French city of Rennes. Some protesters attacked police with heavy concrete blocks. He warned that “radical and far-left groups” could infiltrate the remaining demonstrations later in the day and turn violent.
