03:43Protesters set fire to barricades on the streets of Paris as police deployed tear gas during ongoing demonstrations against the government's pension reforms on Monday.
"I'm here because this is no longer a democracy, because he (Emmanuel Macron) is making fun of us, he's denying us completely, because it's horrible," said Zoe, one protester. "The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The whole street has been demonstrating for months."
"He says nothing, he laughs at us. It is the horror. No more democracy, we are no longer in a democracy. We must say it and say it again," she continued.
Footage also features protesters banging metal objects, chanting, and overturning rubbish bins. Debris and bins could be seen burning in the middle of the street. Police officers were seen clashing with protesters and firing tear gas canisters.
In an address to the nation on Monday evening, Macron promised new measures to improve salaries and working conditions, as well as education, law and order and healthcare, after signing off on his new pension reforms, which have led to huge protests across the country since they were announced in January.
"[I am demonstrating] against the totalitarianism, against the fascism of Macron, against this imposter who only governs by his head, who has betrayed France since the beginning even before his government, who has sold France to the chopping block, who has mistreated the French people since the COVID, since always, who doesn't give a damn about the French people, who mistreats them," claimed another protester, Jerome.
The government passed the pension measures, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, without a vote in the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court approved the changes on Friday.
The administration has argued that the reforms are needed to keep the system solvent. Following the president’s speech, workers’ unions vowed to continue the fight against the changes, with widespread action expected on Labour Day, May 1.
France: Protesters set fire to barricades in Paris, police respond with tear gas
Protesters set fire to barricades on the streets of Paris as police deployed tear gas during ongoing demonstrations against the government's pension reforms on Monday.
"I'm here because this is no longer a democracy, because he (Emmanuel Macron) is making fun of us, he's denying us completely, because it's horrible," said Zoe, one protester. "The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The whole street has been demonstrating for months."
"He says nothing, he laughs at us. It is the horror. No more democracy, we are no longer in a democracy. We must say it and say it again," she continued.
Footage also features protesters banging metal objects, chanting, and overturning rubbish bins. Debris and bins could be seen burning in the middle of the street. Police officers were seen clashing with protesters and firing tear gas canisters.
In an address to the nation on Monday evening, Macron promised new measures to improve salaries and working conditions, as well as education, law and order and healthcare, after signing off on his new pension reforms, which have led to huge protests across the country since they were announced in January.
"[I am demonstrating] against the totalitarianism, against the fascism of Macron, against this imposter who only governs by his head, who has betrayed France since the beginning even before his government, who has sold France to the chopping block, who has mistreated the French people since the COVID, since always, who doesn't give a damn about the French people, who mistreats them," claimed another protester, Jerome.
The government passed the pension measures, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, without a vote in the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court approved the changes on Friday.
The administration has argued that the reforms are needed to keep the system solvent. Following the president’s speech, workers’ unions vowed to continue the fight against the changes, with widespread action expected on Labour Day, May 1.
Protesters set fire to barricades on the streets of Paris as police deployed tear gas during ongoing demonstrations against the government's pension reforms on Monday.
"I'm here because this is no longer a democracy, because he (Emmanuel Macron) is making fun of us, he's denying us completely, because it's horrible," said Zoe, one protester. "The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The whole street has been demonstrating for months."
"He says nothing, he laughs at us. It is the horror. No more democracy, we are no longer in a democracy. We must say it and say it again," she continued.
Footage also features protesters banging metal objects, chanting, and overturning rubbish bins. Debris and bins could be seen burning in the middle of the street. Police officers were seen clashing with protesters and firing tear gas canisters.
In an address to the nation on Monday evening, Macron promised new measures to improve salaries and working conditions, as well as education, law and order and healthcare, after signing off on his new pension reforms, which have led to huge protests across the country since they were announced in January.
"[I am demonstrating] against the totalitarianism, against the fascism of Macron, against this imposter who only governs by his head, who has betrayed France since the beginning even before his government, who has sold France to the chopping block, who has mistreated the French people since the COVID, since always, who doesn't give a damn about the French people, who mistreats them," claimed another protester, Jerome.
The government passed the pension measures, which include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, without a vote in the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court approved the changes on Friday.
The administration has argued that the reforms are needed to keep the system solvent. Following the president’s speech, workers’ unions vowed to continue the fight against the changes, with widespread action expected on Labour Day, May 1.