Foreign Affairs

Video of the protest in the capital

Fire and anger in the streets of Paris: the night of clashes against pension reform

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters, who dragged garbage cans into the street to burn them, there are officers and demonstrators injured

17/03/2023

Reuters

Overnight, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters following the introduction of an unpopular pension bill by the French National Assembly.

At least one car was burning, along with piles of garbage and debris, in the streets near Place de la Concorde. Some protesters were seen throwing pebble stones and firing rockets at police, where local media reported that at least 217 people were arrested, according to authorities.

The rally took place across the Seine from parliament, where Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced yesterday that her government would promote reform using a special constitutional clause. The move will ensure that the bill raising the retirement age of two years to 64 is adopted after weeks of protests and controversy.