For the tenth time in three months, leftwing trade unions took to the streets of Paris and other French cities on Thursday to protest against François Hollande’s jobs reform in a sign of the worsening social climate and deepening political quagmire that have ensnared the socialist president in the final year of his term, reports the Financial Times.
In the French capital, thousands of protesters — carrying union flags and headed by a three-piece brass band — were forced to circle a 1.5km security cordon in the east of Paris.
The unusual arrangement was imposed by authorities on Wednesday as a condition for lifting a previous ban on the demonstration. The government’s flip-flop in dealing with the labour unrest — switching in a matter of hours from a firm hand to conciliation — has been seized on by critics as emblematic of Hollande’s flailing presidency.
In a welcome change for the Elysée from last week’s demonstration, in which hundreds of masked rioters rampaged with hammers and stones, no violent clashes were reported on Thursday. Police checks resulted in more than 90 people being prevented from joining the march because they had brought objects that could have been used as weapons, according to the Paris police chief.
There were light-hearted moments, as when the protesters occasionally changed direction, apparently to irk the 2,000 anti-riot police officers flanking them. “We’re going the other way!” they shouted.
Still, anger at the government was palpable.