UPDATE - Famous Paris restaurant targeted during gov't pension reform protests

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK; UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – The famous La Rotonde restaurant in Paris was attacked during protests against the government's pension reform on Thursday.

A rally against the government's pension reform started Thursday afternoon in the capital.

This is the 11th day of planned mobilization since January, with thousands of workers protesting and walking out in various sectors, including transportation, energy, and education.

Some groups attacked La Rotonde restaurant, considered one of President Emmanuel Macron's favorite venues after he celebrated the first round of the 2017 presidential elections there.

A fire was started near La Rotonde, and firefighters intervened immediately, local media reported.

Protesters threw projectiles at police officers and color paint at the restaurant's windows, an Anadolu correspondent said, adding that police used tear gas to disperse the violent groups.

Protests were held in other cities as well, including Lyon, Rennes, and Marseille.

Police have arrested eight people so far, according to the daily Le Figaro.

A group of protesting railway workers entered the premises of the multinational asset management company BlackRock – the historic Centorial building, the same source added.

They started chanting in the hall of the building which symbolizes banks and wealth for them, Le Figaro also said.

The group left the building shortly after and headed to Place de la Concorde square, near the National Assembly.

French authorities expect up to 800,000 protesters, including 90,000 in Paris, broadcaster BFMTV said.

A total of 11,500 police officers are deployed in the country to intervene in possible troubles, including 4,200 in Paris, the Interior Ministry said, according to Le Figaro.

- Pension reform plan, source of popular furor

The government revealed the reform project in January and parliament started examining and debating the draft bill the following month.

Workers and trade unions have since expressed growing outrage by holding demonstrations and walkouts against the reform which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, requiring at least 43 years of work to be eligible for a full pension.

Political and social tension rose when President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne decided to use special constitutional powers – Article 49.3 – on March 16 to force the plan through without parliamentary approval.

The decision was driven by fear that lawmakers would be able to block the reforms as the government does not hold an absolute majority in the legislature.

Protests then turned violent when violent groups infiltrated the parades across the country, and police were criticized for arbitrary arrests and disproportionate use of force.

*Umit Donmez in Paris contributed to this story