महँगीविरुद्धको प्रदर्शन
Paris, October 18:
Nationwide protests against rising inflation in France turned violent on Saturday, resulting in clashes with police, arson, and widespread looting. Around 400 people were arrested during the incidents, and a 17-year-old teenager lost his right hand after being struck by a crowd-control grenade in Saint-Étienne.
According to the Ministry of Interior, 550,000 people participated in the demonstrations. However, the CGT trade union claimed that 800,000 people took part. Masked youths looted shops and set fire to and vandalized vehicles and government buildings in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, and other cities. In Limoges, a building over 140 years old suffered severe damage due to a fire. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence, while President Emmanuel Macron stated that those involved in vandalism and looting will face strict action. With preparations for the upcoming presidential election underway, inflation, political discontent, and student protests have further escalated unrest. Demonstrators stated that the Middle East conflict has contributed to rising inflation in Europe. The “Yellow Vest” group, which staged protests against fuel tax hikes eight years ago, called for the “Yellow and Youth” protests this time. Marine Le Pen, a contender in the presidential election, condemned the violence and accused the party of far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of legitimizing it. Mélenchon, who has been supporting the protests, stated that looting goes against the principles of his movement and urged people to stay away from it.
In Paris, protesters chanted slogans demanding President Macron’s resignation. Some compared the current movement to the French Revolution of 1789. Riyad Rani, head of the student representative body, stated that the government is under pressure and that dissatisfied French citizens will not back down from their demands.
— RSS/Unified Nepal
