1,093 police officers and firefighters have been injured so far in violent protests against pension reforms in France. Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, says this. At the same time, investigations into the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials continue.
Since January, there have been protests against raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. Peaceful demonstrations turned violent after 16 March after the government announced it would implement controversial reforms outside parliament.
In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche (JDD), Darmanin said it also included 2,579 arson attacks and 316 damage to public buildings in recent weeks.
“Professional Rebels”
There are also criticisms of the police. The agents have been accused by human rights groups of using excessive force and making arbitrary arrests during demonstrations in recent months. There are 38 procedures regarding the actions of agents and gendarmes,
The Minister of the Interior does not share this criticism. He says the protests were largely peaceful, but violence was fueled by radical rebel groups. “Then it is the duty of law enforcement to intervene,” said Darmanin. Police must be “tough” to defend themselves against “professional rioters” who set out to “damage property and kill cops”.
The unions announced a new national strike day on Thursday, April 6th. Strikes continue to disrupt public life. Air travel and fuel delivery to gas stations are blocked in some places.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
