French security forces responded with tear gas as French students protesting proposed labor reforms hurled bottles at riot police in Paris and the western city of Nantes.
The reforms, which were significantly watered down under pressure from a wave of protests, were adopted earlier Thursday by the cabinet of President Francois Hollande.
Thousands of people went on the streets to protest the proposed legislation.
“Young and insurgent, the world is ours”, and ‘’To dream of a job or to dream of unemployment?’’ read some of the banners, carried by the demonstrators, as hundreds gathered at Place d’Italie in the south of the French capital, where riot police used tear gas after students threw bottles and emptied a rubbish bin over some officers.
According to RT’s reporter Jonathan Moadab, who was caught in the clashes with his crew while broadcasting, there was complete chaos and panic on the streets. Protesters in Paris could be heard shouting “Resistance!” before plumes of smoke broke out.
La #police sous le Jets de projectiles bld port royal par #lycéens contre #LoiTravail #Manif24mars pic.twitter.com/xNFiUZ9FvK
— Nicolas Rinaldi (@nicolasrinald1) March 24, 2016
Ten people were injured in Paris in clashes with police, while 45 were arrested, TASS reported in the evening citing Bernard Cazeneuve, French Minister of the Interior.
“According to the information I have received, 10 people have been injured, 45 have been detained. I consider these numbers absolutely unacceptable,” he told a press conference.
La #police réplique avec gaz
Débordements #Manif24mars #lyceens contre #LoiTravail pic.twitter.com/8hSMgsX23a— Nicolas Rinaldi (@nicolasrinald1) March 24, 2016
Students have been at the forefront of protests over the reforms, proposed by Labor Minister Myriam El Khomri earlier in March in attempt to fight the high unemployment rate. France has a 10 percent unemployment rate, and among youths, joblessness is nearer to 25 percent- among the highest in Europe. But according to the protestors, the unions, and the left flank of Hollande’s Socialist Party, the reforms are too pro-business and threaten hallowed workers’ rights.
Previous protests were partially organized by a Facebook community called “Loi travail: non, merci” (Labor reform: No, thanks). Arguing that the reforms concern all French citizens, the group has started a petition that has so far been signed by over 1.2 million people.
According to an Odoxa survey for Le Parisien conducted Thursday, 71 percent of French people are against the reforms in the labor sector.
