Bordeaux Town Hall Burnt Down By Pension Reform Protesters

Bordeaux town hall has been burnt down as protests continue in France against plans to raise the pension age.

More than a million protesters took to the streets across France on Thursday.

120,000 marched in Paris.

According to the BBC:

Police fired tear gas at protesters in the capital and 80 people were arrested across the country.

The demonstrations were sparked by legislation raising the retirement age by two years to 64.

Unions have called for further protests next Tuesday, which would coincide with King Charles III’s state visit to the country.

He is scheduled to be in the southwest city of Bordeaux on that day, where fire engulfed the front door of the town hall on Thursday evening after a day of protests and clashes.

It was not clear who was responsible for the blaze, which was quickly put out by firefighters.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin sought to quell any concerns ahead of the King’s trip, saying on Thursday night that security “poses no problem” and the monarch will be “welcomed and welcomed well”, according to AP.

In Paris, generally peaceful demonstrations saw occasional clashes between police and masked rioters who smashed shop windows, demolished street furniture and attacked a McDonald’s restaurant, according to Reuters news agency.

One police officer who lost consciousness was dragged to safety.

AP news agency reported that police forces used tear gas and were pelted by objects and fireworks, with 33 people arrested in the capital.

France’s Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, tweeted: “Demonstrating and voicing disagreements is a right. The violence and degradation we have witnessed today is unacceptable. All my gratitude to the police and rescue forces mobilized.”

“I oppose this reform and I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything,” a demonstrator told Reuters. “We’re not being represented, and so we’re fed up.”

“It is by protesting that we will be able to make ourselves heard because all the other ways… have not allowed us to withdraw this reform,” another told AFP news agency.

The unrest also disrupted train travel, oil refineries and saw teachers and workers at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport walk out of work.

Popular tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles, where a dinner is planned for King Charles and the French president next week, were also closed on Thursday.

The unrest followed the government’s decision to force the legislation to raise the pension age through the lower house of parliament – where it lacks an absolute majority – without a vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron defended the move, saying the reform is a necessity.

5 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
7 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
PodCast
Listen LIVE!

The Richie Allen Radio Show is live Mon – Thurs  5-7pm and Sun 11am -12pm

Click the button to listen live. Stream opens in a new tab.

Support

Support the show!

The Richie Allen Show relies on the support of the listeners.  Click the button to learn more.
7
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x

The Richie Allen Show relies on the support of the listeners. Help Richie to keep producing the show and talking about that which the mainstream media won’t. Please consider a contribution or becoming a Patron, it’s greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Halifax Manchester SORT CODE 11-05-16 ACC No 12130860

New Report

Close