Thousands of French citizens took to the streets today in demonstrations against the government, specifically with respect to President Emmanuel Macron’s wildly unpopular pension reforms.
The protests turned ugly in several municipalities, with Lyon seeing cars set aflame and Reims being forced to close a highway.
Numerous other troubling incidents transpired during the protests. A BNP Paribas bank in Angers was vandalized, as protestors set it ablaze subsequent to spray painting the word “thief” on its facade, while the basement of Nantes’ Departmental Council headquarters suffered a similar fate, as protestors torched it, as well.
Police utilized tear gas canisters in dispersing angry crowds in Le Havre, which did result in injuries. At the time, Jean-Marie Le Pen–leader of the National Front Party–had been holding a meeting in close proximity.
Air travel disruptions were expected, adding to recent woes in this arena. Between a quarter and a third of all flights were cancelled at major French airports.
Moroccan carrier RAM had already cancelled its regularly scheduled French inbound and outbound flights slated for both Monday and Tuesday as a result of the French Civil Aviation Authority’s strike.