Police have deployed water cannon during a rally against the controversial UN migration pact in Brussels. Officers were seen scuffling with protesters, who threw firecrackers before facing off with law-enforcement.
The rally was dubbed the ‘March against Marrakech’ in reference to the city where the pact was signed earlier in December. It was organized by the right-wing Vlaams Belang party which has long been a vocal opponent of the agreement.
While having initially kicked off peacefully, the demonstration started to heat up with some of the participants burning firecrackers and hurling bottles as they marched down the street.
Part of the crowd who rallied on Sunday, also vented their anger by rooting out and throwing around traffic signs and what appeared to be parts of some fences.
Riot police marched out in full riot gear to quell the unease. They later moved in with water cannon against some of the protesters.
One of the videos from the unrest shows how a chain of riot police sprint towards a small group of people (presumably demonstrators). Just moments later at least two of them are being encircled by the riot officers and beaten with batons. A male also gets a direct pepper spray hit in the face from the closest range. After walking just a few meters – apparently completely disoriented – he then collapses on the pavement, with police running past him.
Police said that at least 5,000 have gathered in the Belgian capital. A separate counter-demonstration of around 1,000 people, organised by left-wing groups and non-governmental organisations, also took place in the city centre.
The UN-backed pact promoting an international approach to safe and orderly migration was formally approved in Marrakech, Morocco earlier in December. The accord split global powers, with Austria, Hungary, the US, Israel and several other countries rejecting the pact. Its critics claim that the deal is inadequate for managing global migration flows.
Yellow vest protesters are occupying dozens of traffic roundabouts in France, even as their economic reform movement appears to be losing momentum on the fifth straight weekend of demonstrations.
Some protesters remained Sunday despite a call by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to free the streets.
Some protesters remained Sunday despite a call by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to free the streets.
Eight people have died in incidents tied to the yellow vest movement, mostly from traffic accidents linked to roads blocked by protesters.
On Saturday, protesters took to the streets in cities across France, including Paris, but in far fewer numbers than previous weekends.
On Saturday, protesters took to the streets in cities across France, including Paris, but in far fewer numbers than previous weekends.
Meanwhile, a public opinion poll by the Ifop group published in the Paris based Journal du Dimanche newspaper showed Macron's approval has slipped two points during the past month, to 23 percent.
The number of people who declared themselves "very dissatisfied" by his leadership jumped by six points to 45 percent.
Demonstrations were more subdued nationwide Saturday, partly due to concessions made by earlier this week, as well as a combination of cold weather and rain.
About 8,000 police and 14 armored vehicles were deployed to prevent a repeat of previous protests that turned violent, with protesters looting stores and setting up burning barricades in the streets.
Police said more than 115 people were taken into custody Saturday.
A week ago, French officials said more than 100,000 people had joined protests around the country. This week, police counted just over 33,000 protesters nationwide.
The weeks of protests have exposed intense resentment among non-city residents who feel that Macron, a former investment banker, is out of touch with struggling middle class and blue-collar workers.
Government officials are concerned that repeated outbreaks of violence would weaken the economy and raise doubts about the government's survival.
Officials are also concerned about far-right, anarchist and anti-capitalist groups like Black Bloc that have mimicked the "yellow vest" movement.
The "yellow vest" movement was named after the safety jackets French motorists are required to keep in their vehicles, which the protesters wear at demonstrations.
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