A fresh wave of protests have erupted across France, with workers and students taking to the streets, demanding that the French government back down from their decision to impose a new labour law. This comes after Francois Hollande's government decided on 17 May to bypass parliament and impose a relaxation of the country's protective labour laws by decree, using article 49.3 of the French constitution to push through the reform bill.
A woman with the numbers, "49-3" symbolically taped across her mouth in reference to article 49.3 of the French constitution in ParisGonzalo Fuentes/ Reuters
Hollande has become deeply unpopular with the French electorate as his government continues to push the labour reforms aimed at making hiring and firing people easier and would be a serious attack on the social rights of many French citizens.
"The battle has not been won. It will only be won when over a series of months we have a continuous fall in unemployment," President Francois Hollande told Europe 1 radio.
A protestor throws a piece of fence as demonstrators march in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/ AFPA demonstrator holds a wheelie bin to protect himself from tear gas canisters, during a demonstration against the government's planned labour law reformDamien Meyer/ AFP
In Nantes, incidents between protestors and police forces escalated as thousands of people demonstrated against the planned employment and labour reforms. According to sources. there were between 3,500 and 10,000 individuals who took part.
A peaceful march in by union members in Paris was interrupted when masked protesters threw projectiles, to which riot police responded with tear gas. Montpelier saw the numbers 49.3 written on walls in reference to article 49.3 of the French constitution. Many protestors used the number as a way of defiance, painting it on themselves as they marched.
A protester wears a garbage can during a demonstration against French labour law reform in NantesStephane Mahe/ ReutersFrench riot police clash with demontrators during a protest against the French government's labour law reforms in LyonJean-Philippe Ksiazek/ AFPA demonstrator, standing in front of French riot police, holds a placard reading 'what about the real troublemakers?', during a demonstration against the government's planned labour law reforms in RennesDamien Meyer/ AFP
The proposed reforms have sparked two months of street protests, and have split Hollande's Socialist Party. More protests are expected on the first day of a week of strike action.
Protesters take part in a demonstration against the French government's planned labour law reforms in MarseilleBoris Horvat/ AFPFrench gendarmes raise their shields after receiving a petrol bomb as they clash with protesters during a demonstration after the French government used the constitution's Article 49,3 to bypass parliament and force through a controversial labour reform bill in ParisThomas Samson/ AFPDemonstrators stand next to the circular road, during a demonstration against the government's planned labour law reforms in RennesDamien Meyer/ AFPA demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister to the French riot police on the circular road, during a demonstration against the government's planned labour law reforms in RennesDamien Meyer/ AFPDemonstrators sit next to the circular road and hold a placard reading ' When we say no, it means no' in front of French riot police, during a demonstration against the government's planned labour law reforms in RennesDamien Meyer/ AFPA protestor holds a placard reading 'Macron to the coals ' as he takes part in a demonstration against the French government's labour law reforms in MontpellierPascal Guyot/ AFPFrench gendarmes clash with protesters during a demonstration after the French government used the constitution's Article 49.3 to bypass parliament and force through a controversial labour reform bill in ParisThomas Samson/ AFPProtesters hold a banner reading 'withdrawal of the labour law' and carry flags of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) French worker's union as they march by a placard reading 'In favor of the withdraw of the labour law and conquer a new Labour code of the 21st century' during a demonstration against the French government's labour law reforms in MontpellierPascal Guyot/ AFPDemonstrators providing medical assistance shield themselves in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/ AFPA protester holds a placard denouncing the position of Socialist Party (PS), during a demonstration against the French government's planned labour law reforms in MarseilleBoris Horvat/ AFPA protestor looks on while seated during a demonstration in ToulouseEric Cabanis/ AFPProtestors throw projectiles at police forces during a demonstration in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/ AFPProtestors wearing masks carry a sign as demonstrators march in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/ AFPA protestor kicks a tear gas canister in NantesJean-Sebastian Evrard/ AFPProtestor hold a placard picturing French Prime Minister Manuel Valls holding a gun and reading '49-3 the quiet force' as they take part in a demonstration against the French government's labour law reforms in MontpellierPascal Guyot/ AFPA person walks past a wall with 49.3 written on it during a demonstration against the French government's labour law reforms in MontpellierPascal Guyot/ AFP
