The "change in nature" of the demonstrations since the adoption of the pension reform through the use of 49.3 is reflected in the acceleration of referrals to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN). According to its director, 17 judicial investigations have been opened since the first national day of mobilization against the pension reform in January. "This figure is by definition evolving," added on BFMTV Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre.

On Friday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that eleven IGPN investigations had been opened "for a week". This therefore signals a recent acceleration of referrals, especially since March 16 and the beginning of wild demonstrations in Paris and several regions, in reaction to the use of 49.3.

"Radicalization" of the movement

"There has been a change in nature, particularly radicalized individuals who were not on the first national days of action," argued the head of the IGPN. "De facto, this change of nature, this change of atmosphere, this radicalization, we find it in our referrals," added the magistrate by training.

Regarding the threatening and humiliating remarks of police officers, attributed to members of the decried Brav-M unit, towards young demonstrators and revealed in an audio recording, Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre said she was "as a citizen, terribly shocked". "These abuses are destructive for the institution of the National Police" and "casts opprobrium on all other services and police officers on the ground who are exemplary," she regretted. An administrative investigation, on referral of the prefect of police Laurent Nuñez, and a judicial investigation, after a report sent Saturday to the Paris prosecutor's office, were opened to the IGPN on this case.

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