France to Deploy 13,000 Police for March 28 Protests

In France, around 13,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed to ensure order during the large-scale protests scheduled for March 28, with 5,500 of them being engaged in Paris, announced Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. This information was reported by BFMTV.

The minister expressed concern over potential attempts to disrupt public order. March 28 will mark the tenth day of nationwide protests against pension reforms. Unions are calling for strikes among railway workers, and disruptions are expected in the metro services. Air traffic controllers, teachers, and energy sector employees are also set to strike, according to Le Figaro.

Flight cancellations could reach up to 20% at the airports in Orly, Marseille, Toulouse, and Bordeaux.

In some cities, protests have been accompanied by riots, theft, and arson attempts. Protesters in Bordeaux set fire to the town hall, and numerous arson incidents have been recorded in Paris.

The French government approved pension reforms in mid-March while bypassing parliament. The reforms aim to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.