More violent protests hit France as Macron’s tough stance backfires

French authorities struggled to maintain law and order during weekend protests over diesel taxes and the high cost of living standards in the country.

Reports say anti-government protesters used a forklift truck to force their way into a government ministry compound, torching cars near the Champs Elysees.

In another incident, there was a violent skirmish on a bridge over the Seine as demonstrators punched and kicked riot police officers to the ground.

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The security lapses now raises questions over policing tactics but also over how Macron responds, as he prepares to bring in stricter rules for unemployment benefits and cut thousands of public sector jobs.

On Sunday evening, Macron wrote on Twitter: “Once again, the Republic was attacked with extreme violence – its guardians, its representatives, its symbols.”

According to government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, Macron’s administration would not relent in its pursuit of reforms to reshape the economy.

Griveaux also branded the protesters as ‘agitators seeking to overthrow the government’.

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