217 arrests in Paris – Nationwide protests and riots

217 people were arrested by the police on Thursday evening at a protest in Paris against the government's pension reform measures. In the center of the French capital, riots broke out on the Place de la Concorde, the channel “France Info” reported. A fire is said to have been lit in front of Parliament.

According to police sources, 217 people were arrested, as reported by the dpa news agency. According to media reports, the riot police used water cannon and tear gas to clear the square. Among other things, demonstrators set fire to wooden pallets and threw objects at the police officers. A total of around 6000 participants were counted.

The French government under Emmanuel Macron made a short decision on Thursday afternoon to push through the controversial pension reform without the actual vote in the National Assembly. She resorted to a special article in the constitution to implement President Macron's most important reform project. This increases the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. The concern was that not enough MPs would agree to the reform.

Protests also broke out in other French cities such as Marseille, Dijon, Nantes, Rennes, Rouen, Grenoble, Toulouse and Nice. In Marseille, demonstrators devastated several shops. According to AFP reporters, there were also clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Nantes, Rennes and Lyon.

The unions have called for a new nationwide day of strikes and protests for next Thursday. Millions of people had already taken to the streets against the reform project. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin instructed the police to give special protection to MPs in the face of the ongoing protests. The parliamentarians are exposed to threats, insults and damage to property, the minister wrote, as reported by "France Info".