Paris violence over pensions

A ‘BLACK Thursday’ of demonstrations and strikes against pension reform descended into violence in France yesterday.

The worst trouble was in Paris, where protesters fought running battles with police in Bastille square. Anarchists calling themselves ‘Black Bloc’ were blamed for infiltrating a planned march.

‘They started throwing rocks and other projectiles,’ said an officer at the scene, who added that there had been 30 arrests by 5pm, with tear gas and baton charges used by police.

Trade unions predicted a million people would mobilise to fight president emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030. But Mr Macron’s Renaissance party does not have a majority, so will rely on around 60 MPs from the conservative Republicans party to get his reforms through.