Labour law protests have pitted the government against the unions and led to the first ban on a demonstration since 1962.
- Marches in Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Le Havre
- Tight security after recent violence
- Opposition to labour reform refusing to die down
ADVERTISEMENTSeveral thousand protesters have marched through Paris under strict surveillance.
At times, it seemed there were as many police as protesters around the Place de la Bastille.
Their planned route was shortened after a showdown between unions and the French government earlier this week.
Paris protesters march under huge police presence: https://t.co/uSQwduuizupic.twitter.com/5lVmRA71QQ
— Reuters Top News (
Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/746006929357561856">June 23, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </p> <p> <blockquoteclass="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update: Paris protesthas kickedoff; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/France?src=hash">#France</a>'s police arrest85 aheadof march<a href="https://t.co/I4mJHSVGim">https://t.co/I4mJHSVGim</a> <a href="https://t.co/zeELr4Tt6Q">pic.twitter.com/zeELr4Tt6Q</a></p>— The StraitsTimes (STcom) June 23, 2016
Paris battens down the hatches
Parisians prepared for more clashes between protesters and police.
The government did a U-turn and authorised a union-led street protest against a highly controversial labour reform bill.
Were a lot of police deployed?
Yes.
More than 2,000 around the Place de la Bastille to help manage the march.
It comes at a time when the police are already running at full stretch.
The state of emergency imposed after last November’s terrorist attacks in Paris is still in operation.
The Euro 2016 football championships are also taking place across France.
The police say 85 people were arrested before the march set off.
The precautions
- Police checked bags for projectiles
- Panes of glass removed from bus stops
- Steel barriers erected along the route
- Bastille metro station closed
Marseille
Demonstrators brandished flares as they marched through the southern French city of Marseille.
Police estimate around 2,800 protesters turned out. The organisers estimate the number at 45,000.
The protest went off peacefully.
#instantané Des manifestants contre la #LoiTravail à Marseille #AFPpic.twitter.com/ORcH45bNjL
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) June 23, 2016 ### Were there demonstrations anywhere else?
Yes.
- Le Havre – 3,400 (police), 20,000 (organisers)
- Toulouse – 3,500 (police), 12,000 (organisers) #ZéroChômeurs#ZéroBanques#LePeupleDirige#ZéroSDF#ZéroPatrons#manif23juin#LeHavre#LoiTravail#ElKhomripic.twitter.com/YtzLQsEPlo
— Yanick Toutain(@YanickToutain) June 23, 2016
ADVERTISEMENT#LoiTravail 3500 personnes à la #manif23juin à #Toulouse Notre reportage vidéo https://t.co/mLKcIcts9Kpic.twitter.com/HDAwRXaJIZ
— La Dépêche du Midi (@ladepechedumidi) June 23, 2016
#France: Demonstrationagainstlaborlaw#LoiTravail todayin #Rennes. Photo: CorreErwan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/manif23juin?src=hash">#manif23juin</a> <a href="https://t.co/WrAGf2TzEd">pic.twitter.com/WrAGf2TzEd</a></p>— ѕyndιcalιѕт(syndicalisms) June23, 2016
Why is there so much concern?
Recent protests in Paris and in other French cities have been marred by hundreds of mostly masked youths in running battles with police.
Paving stones were thrown and shop fronts have been smashed.
ADVERTISEMENTThe confrontations prompted the government to ban Thursday’s march in the French capital.
It was the first time in more than five decades that a French government banned a union march.
After a backlash from within its own ranks, the Socialist government backed down and allowed the march.
In France, the right to protest is keenly defended, particularly by those on the left.
What are the protests about?
A proposed bill that would relax France’s strict and sacrosanct employment legislation.
ADVERTISEMENTThe government is determined the proposed legislation, known as the “El Khomri law” after the minister responsible, will become law.
However, there is fierce opposition from French unions.
President Francois Hollande is vowing to see the legislation pass into law.
Union representatives are calling for a meeting with Hollande.
The text of the bill is being debated by the Senate or Upper House this week.
ADVERTISEMENTA vote is due on 28 June.
What they are saying
“There is going to be lots of people!” – CGT union leader, Philippe Martinez.
“I have seen worse. It is the riot police who are out in force, not the protesters!” – a Paris kiosk owner.