VIDEO: Unrest in Paris; Casualties Reported

On Wednesday in Paris, protesters clashed with police during the eighth demonstration since the beginning of the year against pension reforms. According to TASS, law enforcement used tear gas against the demonstrators.

Violence erupted on the Boulevard Montparnasse in the southern part of the French capital. Aggressive protesters threw bottles and stones at the police, shattering windows of shops and offices, particularly damaging the public employment service division. Vandals broke advertising panels and set dumpsters on fire. One female participant in the action was injured and received medical assistance.

According to forecasts from the territorial intelligence service of the national police, between 50,000 and 80,000 people are expected to participate in the protests in Paris. The demonstration organized by trade unions began at the Esplanade des Invalides and is expected to conclude at 7:00 PM local time (8:00 PM Yerevan time) at Place d'Italie in southern Paris. Movement of cars and surface public transport is restricted along the entire route.

The pension reform project was introduced in mid-January by French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne. In addition to raising the retirement age to 64, it proposes increasing the minimum pension to 1,200 euros and eliminating several special pension schemes. The Senate (the upper house of Parliament) approved the pension reform bill on March 11. The final version of the legislation is to be agreed upon by a joint committee composed of seven deputies from the National Assembly (the lower house) and seven senators on March 15.