309 Protesters Arrested in Large Demonstrations Across France
During mass protests held today across France at the call of trade unions against the government’s proposal to drastically cut budget spending, 309 people were arrested, and 134 were placed in custody, announced Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau this evening, adding that 26 police officers were injured in the clashes.
Retailleau stated that around 500,000 people took part in all protests, while organizers claim that one million people gathered.
Public transport was disrupted today, with many metro lines in Paris closed, while demonstrators blocked roads and streets in major cities across France.
Students gathered in front of schools and universities, blocking entrances and chanting slogans, joined by a large number of teachers.
Pharmacists also massively joined the strike, and the president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions, Philippe Besse, stated that 98 percent of about 20,000 pharmacies in France were closed.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said this evening that he will meet again with union representatives in the coming days in an attempt to reach a compromise on the budget.
