Thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Paris’ Place de la Republique calling for ‘resistance’ to President Macron’s ‘capitalist’ agenda of employment and benefits reforms.
Newly elected President Emmanuel Macron faced his first test today when a hard-left demonstration in the French capital descended into a riot.
Communists and revolutionary groups clashed with heavily armed riot police in the centre of Paris .
Thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Place de la Republique calling for ‘resistance’ to President Macron’s ‘capitalist’ agenda of employment and benefits reforms.
The march paused on the traditional 2km route to Place de la Bastille – the scene if the first throws of the 1789 French Revolution – where bottles and missiles were thrown at riot police.
Squadrons of heavily armed officers responded by firing tear gas and baton charges.