As arrests increase, French unions announce a new protest date.
May 2, 2023Tweet
French trade unions have announced that they will call new mass demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms next month. The fourteenth day of protests will be held on June 6, days before lawmakers debate a bill that would repeal the changes. Police said 800,000 people turned out across France against the pension reform on Monday, while the hard-left CGT union tallied 2.3 million. The unions said they would attend new discussions with cabinet ministers, but would "reiterate their refusal of the pensions reform". 540 people were arrested during Monday's demonstrations, including 305 in Paris.
Three officers were "in an extremely difficult situation" but not fighting for their lives. At least two journalists, including an AFP photographer, reported being hit without serious injuries.