Pension protests in France have so far injured 1,093 policemen, gendarmes and aid workers, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said. At the same time, 38 investigations into excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies are ongoing.
Since March 16, 2,579 arson attacks and 316 damages to public buildings have also been recorded, reports the minister in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche (JDD).
Demonstrations against the pension reform have been going on since mid-January. Since President Emmanuel Macron’s government went ahead with plans on March 16 without a vote in parliament, protests have taken place daily and regularly spiraled out of control, especially in Paris. The unions have announced a new day of national strike for Thursday 6 April.
Strong criticism of the police
In addition to protesters and rioters, the police have also received strong criticism. The agents are accused by human rights organizations of, among other things, excessive force and arbitrary arrests during demonstrations in recent months. There are 38 investigations into the actions of agents and gendarmes, reports Darmanin in the JDD. However, he continues to support law enforcement, in his own words: “If it gets violent and rioters and the far left get involved, then it’s law enforcement’s duty to say stop.”
Source: BNR
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