Calls for for ‘anti-thug legislation’ after Paris violence escalates
Emmanuel Macron‘s authorities is seeking to introduce an “anti-thug law” to punish protesters after violent clashes broke out with law enforcement officials on May Day. Across France, some 800,000 individuals took to the streets for Labour Day to mobilise towards Macron’s latest transfer to boost the retirement age from 62 to 64. During the violent clashes, Brut journalist Remy Buisine was hit within the toes by a grenade.
A Paris police officer was additionally significantly injured by a Molotov cocktail, amongst 108 officers injured round France.
Minister Gerald Darmanin denounced the riots and referred to as for an “anti-thug law” to punish violent protesters.
He instructed BFMTV: “Violence is increasingly strong in a society that is radicalising.
“We will need to have the strongest felony sanctions towards those that assault the police.”
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr Helena Ivanov of the Henry Jackson Society, warned such a measure could backlash into more violent protests aimed at Macron.
She said: “May Day protests in France noticed a considerable escalation, and if President Macron hoped that the protests would deescalate – these hopes have been shattered now. What his subsequent steps might be is difficult to foretell – though he appears unwilling to again down on his pension reform regardless of the unpopularity of the coverage.
“As for the state of emergency or banning protests – we can expect all of those to be extremely unpopular and they would potentially escalate things even further, so I suspect that Macron will try to avoid it and only sign it as a last resort.
“It is comprehensible that we’re listening to requires these legal guidelines – the French authorities is more and more determined to finish these protests. However, requires ‘anti thug legal guidelines’ in addition to their precise implementation is prone to solely additional agitate the French individuals. So, for my part, such legal guidelines are very prone to backlash.”
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While marchers were largely peaceful, violence by radicals, an ever-present reality at French marches, marred the message, notably in Paris, Lyon and Nantes.
At least 108 police officers and gendarmes were injured in France on Monday, including “about twenty” in Paris, during the May Day protests.
While, 291 people were arrested in the country, including 90 in the capital.
Organisers see pension reform as a threat to hard-fought worker rights, while Macron argues it’s economically necessary as the population ages.
Tear gas hung over the end point of the Paris march, Place de la Nation, where a huge black cloud lofted high above the trees after radicals set two fuel cans afire outside a building renovation site.
French union members were joined by groups fighting for economic justice, or just expressing anger at what is seen as Macron’s out-of-touch, pro-business leadership.
Polls consistently show a majority of French people are opposed to the pension reform, which Macron says is needed to keep the retirement system afloat as the population ages.
Protesters who have been out in force in their millions since January are also angry at Macron himself and his presidency, which they see as threatening France’s worker protections and favouring big businesses.
Macron has argued that raising the retirement age is needed to keep the French pension system afloat amid an aging population. Unions and other opponents say wealthy taxpayers or companies should pitch in more instead, and see the reform as an erosion of France’s social safety net.
Last week he gave a speech on national TV to defend his widely unpopular plan.
The law is opposed by seven out of ten French people, according to the latest polls.
Additional reporting my Maria Ortega