FIERY SCENES IN FRANCE Demonstrators set fires and clash with police, hundreds arrested in riots over pension reform

SARAJevo, (Patria) - French police arrested 217 people last night during protests in Paris against the controversial pension reform that was pushed through parliament without a final vote in the lower house, local media reported.

The France Info television station quoted police sources as saying that 217 people were arrested as riots broke out in Place de la Concorde in central Paris near the meeting place of the lower house of parliament.

Demonstrators set fire to pallets, attacked police

According to media reports, riot police used water cannons and tear gas. Protesters, among other things, set fire to wooden pallets and threw objects at police officers. At the time of the outbreak of clashes, there were about 6,000 opponents of the pension reform in the square.

The French government decided yesterday afternoon at the last minute to implement President Emmanuel Macron's most important reform, which provides for a gradual increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. The government bypassed the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, in the procedure, where the voting result was on the verge of a decision.

Demonstrations in other cities

There is a special article in the French constitution that allows the government to do this. The reform can still be overturned by a vote of no confidence in the government.

Protests also broke out in other French cities, and trade unions have called for a new national day of strikes and protests to be held next Thursday. Millions of people have already taken to the streets against the reform proposal.