FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike across France after unions called for a day of protests against budget cuts.
The Interior Ministry said between 600,000 and 900,000 people could take part in demonstrations across the country, adding that 80,000 police officers have been deployed.
Clashes were reported in the cities of Lyon and Nantes, where police used tear gas to disperse protesters.
The strikes come just a week after Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed prime minister following the fall of François Bayrou's government.
Public transport was severely disrupted on Thursday morning, with many metro lines in Paris reported to be closed, while protesters blocked streets and avenues in major cities across France.
Students gathered in front of schools and universities in the capital and beyond, blocking entrances and chanting slogans.
Pharmacists are also adhering to a mass strike, with 98% of pharmacies expected to remain closed.
Unions have called for more spending on public services, higher taxes for the wealthy and for budget cuts imposed by Bayrou's short-lived government to be scrapped.
Sophie Binet, the leader of one of France's main union groups, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), said that "we must be strong, that's how we gather the strength to continue the fight... to force the government and employers to end policies that only serve the richest."
Bruno Retailleau, the outgoing interior minister, said 58 people had been arrested across France by midday.
"We will be uncompromising and ruthless," Retailleau warned, adding that he had instructed police to make arrests "as soon as there is even the slightest mistake."
Ahead of the protests, Laurent Nunez, the Paris prosecutor, had expressed concerns that the demonstrations would be "diverted" by far-left groups and called on shops in the city center to close for the day.
Thursday's strikes come after around 200,000 people took part in protests organised by the grassroots Bloquons Tout movement last week, which caused several disruptions across France.
Bayrou's unpopular budget proposal, which aimed to reduce France's high public debt with cuts of 44 billion euros (£38 billion), saw him lose a confidence vote in the National Assembly last week, when parties across the political spectrum united to oust him.
New Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who has yet to assemble a ministerial team, has not completely abandoned the cuts and has held talks with opposition parties in an attempt to reach a compromise on the budget.
Lecornu's position is precarious. Like his two predecessors, Bayrou and Michel Barnier, he faces a hung parliament divided into three blocs with deeply different political leanings, making it difficult to draft a budget acceptable to the majority of deputies.
But France is also facing rising public debt, equivalent to almost 50,000 euros per French citizen.
Barnier and Bayrou were also ousted as a result of their proposed budgets, which would have brought significant cuts - with left-wing politicians instead calling for tax increases.
Lini një Përgjigje