Fiery clashes as ‘yellow vests’ revive protests across France
- Thousands gather in Montpellier, with smaller demonstrations in other cities, including Paris and Marseille
- Movement tapered off over summer, but leaders are hoping for fresh wave of rallies as government begins reform of country’s retirement system
French police clashed on Saturday with anti-government protesters seeking to inject fresh momentum into demonstrations calling for social justice and the ousting of President Emmanuel Macron.
The so-called “yellow vest” movement had tapered off over the summer, but its leaders hope to galvanise support for a fresh wave of rallies across the country as the government begins a reform of France’s retirement system.
Officials in the southern city of Montpellier said around 2,000 people gathered in the city centre – organisers put their numbers at closer to 5,000.
During clashes between police and protesters, officers fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowd and a firebomb wrecked an unoccupied police car. Several storefronts were vandalised and police said seven people had been detained.
The region’s officials blamed what it said were around 500 members of the hard-core Black Bloc for the violence.
Organisers of the protests had called for a major demonstration in Montpellier, long a stronghold of the movement. But smaller rallies took place in other cities around France, including Paris, Marseille, Rouen, Lille, Strasbourg, Dijon and Toulouse.