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Protests in France and the Detention of About 200 People
French authorities detained around 200 individuals during protests that took place on Wednesday in various cities, protesting against President Emmanuel Macron's economic and social policies. The demonstrations centered around the slogan "Let's shut everything down," expressing protesters' rejection of the government's approach to managing economic and social issues.
In Paris, hundreds of protesters gathered around Gare du Nord station amid heightened security measures. Police used tear gas to prevent demonstrators from entering the station.
In a statement to Anadolu Agency, French protester Alisa expressed her strong opposition to austerity policies, noting her dissatisfaction with the appointment of Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister after the fall of François Bayrou’s government. She said, "We need to protest and show that we don’t agree with these policies. I believe this is very important."
Similarly, protester Julie voiced her "exhaustion with government policies," explaining that she participates in the demonstrations due to the government's neglect of citizens’ voices, accusing it of leaning toward the far right and racism.
In Marseille, France’s second-largest city, thousands participated in the protests, holding signs calling for President Macron's resignation and expressing anger at the current situation.
In related news, the French Parliament voted on Monday to oust François Bayrou's government after nine months in office, due to plans to reduce the inflated public debt. This marked the first government failure since 1958 to lose a vote of confidence in the parliament after requesting one itself, reflecting the ongoing tension in the French political scene.
