Cooking pots banned at anti-Macron protests in France, drawing ridicule
- The move to prohibit or confiscate the items, which demonstrators used to make noise, was mocked by political opponents – as well as a French pot manufacturer
- Police say they had received an order that banned the carrying of ‘portable sound devices’ for the duration of the president’s visit
Thousands of French citizens took to the streets again on Thursday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron and his controversial pension reform plans.
Before a visit by Macron to Ganges in the south of France, police turned away protesters carrying cooking pots that had been used to make noise, videos showed. Media also reported pots being confiscated.
The officers said they had received an order that banned the carrying of “portable sound devices” for the duration of the presidential visit, which apparently included pots.
In recent days, demonstrators had made their displeasure with Macron’s pension reform known by banging pots loudly.
“Eggs and pots, that’s what I use for cooking,” Macron said at the beginning of his visit to southern France, where demonstrators threw eggs and potatoes at the head of state from a distance.