France REBELS against Macron: Chaos in streets as protests ERUPT against French President

The marches on Tuesday, October 9 are the first since June and are taking place in cities across France including Nice, Marseilles, Tours, Rennes and Bayonne.

Students, employees and pensioners have all been protesting against what they believe is the “destruction of the social model”.

Images have emerged of French armed police officers tackling protesters, severely injured people and police even using tear gas to control the demonstrators. 

Unions including The General Confederation of Labour and Workers’ Force unions are holding protests in Paris against “ideological policies” and reforms.

Demonstrators hurled tear gas grenades and missiles at the police, with at least one person injured at the head of the march, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.

Photos showed a wounded young man wth blood streaming from his head as thick smoke filled the air.

Gendarmes police officers in riot gear flooded the streets of the French capital, as protesters – some wearing masks – confronted the officers.

The Paris march was one of around 100 anti-government protests planned in France on Tuesday.

Other demonstrators wore anarchist face masks, with officers photographed apprehending one marcher.

A police officer’s riot shield was splattered with yellow paint after a protester threw paint at him.

Rally organisers claim 15,000 people attended the Paris demo, but police put the figure at around 2,900.

Marchers claim Mr Macron’s government is promoting inequality in French society.

Protesters have demanded that France has an “awakening of consciousness” as they have criticised the government’s policies which they believe favour inequality.

These trade unions believe that the government’s policies follow “a logic of individualisation which undermines solidarity and social justice”.

In Paris union leaders have led a procession holding the sign “mobilised for free access to education, employment, public services and pensions.”

General Secretary of the CGT Philippe Martinez said: “We are waiting for the discontent that exists to manifest itself and we are bringing forward proposals such as equal pay for women and men.”

 

French Labour Minister Muriel Pénicaud, said “trade union law and the right to strike is absolute in this country and it is good that it is so”.

The protests come at a time when the government is planning reforms of the pension and benefits system.

Transport systems may be impacted by the strikes locally and certain creches and schools may also be forced to close.

In May the hard left union led street protests across the country against President Macron’s reforms of the public sector.