France has erupted into chaos since President Emmanuel Macron bypassed the legislature to unilaterally raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
From AP:
French President Emmanuel Macron ordered his prime minister to wield a special constitutional power Thursday that skirts parliament to force through a highly unpopular bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote.
His calculated risk set off a clamor among lawmakers, who began singing the national anthem even before Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne arrived in the lower chamber. She spoke forcefully over their shouts, acknowledging that Macron’s unilateral move will trigger quick motions of no-confidence in his government.
The fury of opposition lawmakers echoed the anger of citizens and workers’ unions. Thousands gathered at the Place de la Concorde facing the National Assembly, lighting a bonfire. As night fell, police charged the demonstrators in waves to clear the elegant Place. Small groups of those chased away moved through nearby streets in the chic neighborhood setting street fires. At least 120 were detained, police said.
Similar scenes repeated themselves in numerous other cities, from Rennes and Nantes in the east to Lyon and the southern port city of Marseille, where shop windows and bank fronts were smashed, according to French media. Radical leftist groups were blamed for at least some of the destruction.
Protests have intensified throughout the week.
France is burning and many people wonder if the country is witnessing a revolution.
Zero Hedge noted:
Over a million people participated in nationwide protests on Thursday, transforming urban areas into scenes of chaos. These demonstrations, the largest in years, have triggered fuel shortages, hundreds of arrests, and even claims of “civil war.”
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told French media outlet CNews on Friday morning that more than 900 fires were reported in the streets of Paris on Thursday night — in one of the most violent days of protests in a while.
Here’s some of the footage trending on social media:
France 🇨🇵 on 🔥🔥🔥
🔊pic.twitter.com/CCxRmBmsxT
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) March 23, 2023
🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷
No-one protests as well as the French-they are at it day in day out!
No wonder our Governments want to ban protesting,invoke emergency powers,military & control communication over internet
They know whats coming as they tighten their authoritarian grip#Macron pic.twitter.com/f3QW2EssbS
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) March 20, 2023
Paris, France 🇫🇷
Brutal police state enforcement.
This is not civilised society. It’s the clampdown of civilised protesting. #FranceProtests #Paris pic.twitter.com/08uQHAsCGr
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) March 23, 2023
JUST IN: Protests in France are NOT LETTING UP, videos from Paris emerge showing what looks like a war zone..
WHY IS THE MEDIA HIDING CIVIL UNREST?
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) March 23, 2023
🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷
France has turned into a battleground the last several nights in a row as the French continue to protest.
WEF installed global puppet Macron needs to resign NOW. #Macron #France #wef2030agenda pic.twitter.com/G0PVevrUmT
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) March 19, 2023
France is burning. During yesterday's protest against Jupiter's (read: Pres. Macron's) pension reform, 140 fires were registered in Paris alone. Take a look as "casseurs" set alight the entrance to the town hall of Bordeaux:pic.twitter.com/lIsRnjLz1P
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) March 24, 2023
These protests in France are getting intense. Fires by police station and the sub-prefecture in Lorient 🔥🔥🔥
This is about more than just pension reform. The people of France are revolting against the entire system. Pension reform was just the spark.
🔊 pic.twitter.com/xUdJAP6anX
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) March 23, 2023
NEW – Massive protests hit France: 3.5 million people protested across the country, while 800,000 demonstrated in Paris alone, as per Unions pic.twitter.com/avfcNHTQQN
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 23, 2023
JUST IN: Reports emerging that there are several million people protesting throughout France..
ARE WE WITNESSING A REVOLUTION?
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) March 24, 2023
The fiery protests led to King Charles III postponing his visit to France.
BBC reported:
King Charles III’s state visit to France has been postponed after a request by President Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street says.
The French president said “we would not be serious and would lack common sense” to go ahead after unions called a day of pension protests during the visit.
The trip to Paris and Bordeaux had been due to begin on Sunday.
But both cities were caught up in violence on Thursday, some of the worst since demonstrations began in January.
Buckingham Palace said the decision to postpone the three-day visit by Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, was due to the “situation in France”.
“Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found,” the statement added.
Speaking at the end of an EU summit in Brussels, President Macron said that from the moment on Thursday night when the unions announced another day of action for Tuesday, two days into the state visit, he felt it would be inappropriate for the King and Camilla to travel.
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