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Thousands take to streets in Paris, Rome to protest economic reforms

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  • Thousands take to streets in Paris, Rome to protest economic reforms

    Thousands take to streets in Paris, Rome to protest economic reforms

    April 12, 2014 - 22:16 AMT

    PanARMENIAN.Net - Tens of thousands of people took part in protests in
    central Paris and Rome on Saturday, April 12, organized by hard-left
    parties against government economic reform plans and austerity
    measures, according to Reuters.

    The protest in Rome turned violent when a large splinter group - many
    wearing masks and helmets - threw rocks, eggs, firecrackers and
    oranges at riot police in front of the industry ministry.

    Riot police with batons charged the group, with protesters fighting
    back with rocks and firecrackers. One man lost a hand when a
    firecracker exploded before he could throw it.

    There were dozens of lighter injuries among police and protesters, and
    at least six arrests, police said.

    In Paris, protestors marched from the Place de la Republique, some
    carrying banners attacking President Francois Hollande with slogans
    such as "Hollande, that's enough" and "When you are leftist you
    support employees."

    French police said that about 25,000 joined the protest, which came
    after new Prime Minister Manuel Valls unveiled planned tax and
    spending cuts on Tuesday, vowing to bring down France's public deficit
    and following on the heels of pro-business reforms announced earlier
    this year by Hollande.

    Valls was appointed prime minister in a reshuffle this month after
    Hollande's Socialist Party suffered a drubbing in recent local
    elections where the far-right National Front made strong gains.
    Leftist allies grumble that Valls is too centrist.

    Polls show that the ruling Socialist party will finish third in next
    month's European elections, behind the conservative UMP and the
    National Front.

    Paris is under EU disciplinary action for running too high a budget
    gap and has already been granted a two-year delay to reduce it to
    within the EU limit of 3 percent of gross domestic product by the end
    of 2015.

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