Clashes as new wave of pension protests sweeps France

Violence erupted during massive nationwide protests in France on April 13 against the government’s contentious pension reforms.

Some 380,000 people took to the streets across France, including 42,000 in Paris, according to Interior Ministry figures.

The General Labor Confederation (CGT) placed the figure much higher at more than 1 million, including 400,000 in the capital, Anadolu Agency reports.

On the 12th day of nationwide demonstrations since January, protests were also held in several cities such as Lyon, Nantes, and Marseille.

The latest round of protests came as President Emmanuel Macron refuses to back down on the unpopular measures, with the Constitutional Council set to rule on the legality of the government’s bill on Friday.

As in previous rounds, some groups infiltrated the protests in Paris, vandalizing street fixtures and shop fronts, according to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground.

Police clashed with those groups, using tear gas and water cannons as the other side hurled projectiles at them.

However, tear gas was also fired at peaceful protesters, according to the Anadolu correspondent.

At least 10 police officers were wounded in Paris, one of them seriously, according to French daily Le Figaro.