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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.
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.