New clashes in Paris after thousands protest in France

Detailed summary

A total of 146,000 people took part in demonstrations across France yesterday, including 46,000 in Paris, the interior ministry said. Unions put the figure at 250,000 protesters…

Thousands of people protested across France yesterday in a new show of anger against the government with clashes erupting between police and some protesters in Paris despite a lower turnout than on previous weeks.

The protests marked the fourth consecutive weekend of demonstrations against the rising cost of living which have erupted as the country heads to presidential elections in five months’ time where the far right sees its best chance yet to win power.

A total of 146,000 people took part in demonstrations across France yesterday, including 46,000 in Paris, the interior ministry said.

Unions put the figure at 250,000 protesters nationwide, with 75,000 in the capital.

These figures were lower than the previous three weekends of protests but also came after a mass union protest on Thursday that rallied 575,000 people according to the authorities – 1.6 million according to unions.

At the end of the protest in Paris, police used tear gas against individuals throwing projectiles and homemade fireworks at the security forces.

Police said a group of 200 violent individuals attacked officers as they were arresting a man who had set fire to a trash bin in the square.

Unions had staged a march along a traditional route, from the Place de la Republique in central Paris to Place de la Nation in the east of the city where the clashes erupted at the end of the protest.

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