Protests resume in France as police use tear gas in Lyon
Protests were held across France on Saturday, with police using tear gas on about 150 demonstrators in Lyon. Demonstrations are also taking place in other European countries, including Spain and Italy.
Protests resumed in France on Saturday as part of demonstrations across several European countries, including Spain and Italy. The biggest rallies are expected in France, where AFP news agency reports that actions are already under way in more than 100 locations.
Figures and police response
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police had recorded 136 protest actions on Saturday morning. At the same time last Saturday there were 264. At a press conference, he said about 35,000 people were taking part, compared with 60,000 at the same hour a week earlier. The figures were relayed by the BBC Russian Service.
In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse a group of roughly 150 people near the city centre, where demonstrations were banned. According to AFP, the protesters had tried to block a road briefly. A 21-year-old student told the agency that police were acting very quickly, arriving and breaking up marches before they could form. Tear gas was also reported in Nantes. In Paris, police said protests were peaceful.
Protest in Orléans
A separate demonstration is taking place in Orléans, where the far-right party National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, is holding a conference. Thousands of people took to the streets against both Le Pen and the centrist president, Emmanuel Macron. The crowd chanted: “Macron, resign! Le Pen, to prison!” Police estimated 11,000 participants, while organisers claimed 26,000.
