A total of 457 people were arrested and 441 security forces were injured on Thursday during nationwide protests against French President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
Speaking to the CNews channel on Friday morning, Darmanin also said that there were 903 fires on the streets of Paris during the most violent protests since they began in January.
“There have been many demonstrations and some have turned violent, especially in Paris,” Darmanin added, saying the numbers were “difficult” while praising the police for protecting more than a million people around France.
Police have warned that anarchist groups are expected to infiltrate Paris and hooded and masked youths were seen smashing windows and burning uncollected rubbish in the final stages of the demonstration.
Darmanin, a right-wing hardliner in Macron’s centrist government, rejected calls from protesters to cancel the pension reform that cleared parliament last week in controversial circumstances.
“I don’t think we should repeal this law because of violence,” he said. “If so, it means there is no country. We must accept a democratic social debate, but not a violent debate.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the entrance to Bordeaux city hall was set on fire during clashes in the southwestern wine export hub.
“I find it difficult to understand and accept this vandalism,” Bordeaux Mayor Pierre Hurmic told RTL radio on Friday.
“Why did you target our communal building, all the people of Bordeaux? I can only punish you in the strongest possible way.
English King Charles III is set to visit the southwestern city next Tuesday, and is expected to visit the city hall and meet with Hurmic.