Fresh clashes erupt across France as protests spread nationwide

rte.ie —

Fresh clashes erupted across France as protesters marched nationwide, a week after violent riots prompted a security crackdown by President Emmanuel Macron. Police arrested nearly 1,000 people amid what the interior minister called "extremely elevated" violence from ultra-left extremists. Riot police fired tear gas in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Montpellier and Nantes, with two people seriously injured. Authorities deployed 70,000 security personnel for the cost-of-living protests, which drew between 410,000 and 800,000 attendees, while banning non-union demonstrations and imposing partial curfews. The unrest comes six months before a presidential election, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading polls and launching her campaign in Orleans. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon vowed weekly protests, while similar demonstrations over inflation and education broke out in Italy, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.


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