Manuel Valls calls for end of demonstrations in Paris after riots

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on opponents of his labor reform on Wednesday not to organize large demonstrations in Paris like those that took place on Tuesday.

In an interview with France Inter radio station on Tuesday, Valls downplayed the mobilization of the protests as there were fewer protesters than in previous demonstrations, and reiterated that he will not modify the essential points of labor reform.

Valls stressed that Paris cannot have demonstrations in the coming weeks before asking the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), which is leading the protests, to give up new calls for marches in the capital, where at least 58 people have been arrested for rioting and 29 policemen and 11 protesters wounded.

He denounced the “lack of responsibility” of the CGT, and in particular its attitude towards security, at the time when UEFA Euro 2016 is being held in France, in addition to the terrorist alert.