- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Uprising? At Least 50,000 Protest Against Labor Reform in Paris (VIDEO)

© AP Photo / Claude ParisA masked demonstrator throws a tear gas canister during a clash with police, after a demonstration in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 12, 2016
A masked demonstrator throws a tear gas canister during a clash with police, after a demonstration in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, May 12, 2016 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Up to 50,000 Parisians protested a labor reform bill pushed through French parliament this week in a show of public discontent that turned violent, French television reported Thursday, citing labor unions.

PARIS (Sputnik) – Police fired tear gas at anti-reform demonstrators outside the parliament building ahead of the no-confidence vote in the lower-house National Assembly.

The protests followed Tuesday’s demonstrations when the Socialist government applied a rarely-used clause to bypass a National Assembly vote on a bill that will relax hiring and firing rules to curb rising unemployment.

French riot police officers (CRS) face protestors during clashes during a demonstration against the French labour law proposal in Paris, France, as part of a nationwide labor reform protests and strikes, April 28, 2016. - Sputnik International
Protesters, Police Clash as France Set to Pass Controversial Labor Reforms
The 50,000 figure compiled by trade union organizations and cited by France’s BFMTV stood in contrast of city police estimates that up to 12,000 people took part in the rally.

The unrest led to four arrests on gun possession and attacking police with bottles, rocks and other items. Six similar arrests took place in Cannes and five more in Nantes.

Among the labor reforms proposed by Prime Minister Manuel Valls’ government are highly unpopular attempts to increase daily working hours and simplify firing procedures.

Knowing that the draft law would be rejected by lawmakers, the French government invoked article 49.3 of the constitution allowing the prime minister to pass a bill through the parliament without a vote if necessary. Triggering the clause allows the French parliament to debate a vote of no confidence against the government.

If Thursday's no-confidence vote succeeds, Valls' Cabinet will have to step down and repeal the bill or else it will go before the Senate.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала