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French President Emmanuel Macron’s favorite restaurant was targeted by demonstrators. Photo/Al Arabiya
PARIS – Protesters set fire to one of the President’s favorite restaurants Prancis Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday during clashes with riot police in the upscale Brasserie area.
Staff at La Rotonde in the Montparnasse area had to put out a fire at the tented restaurant where Macron had hosted a victory party during his successful 2017 election campaign.
An AFP journalist saw a group of men dressed in black with fireworks and throwing stones at the restaurant as reported by Al Arabiya, Friday (7/4/2023).
The fire was caused by a flare thrown at a cloth tent, with firefighters having to put it out.
Rows of riot police formed to protect businesses on the 11th day of nationwide protests and strikes against Macron’s wildly unpopular attempt to increase the retirement age to 64 from 62.
The red velvet sofas and soft lighting of La Rotonde, a Belle Epoque hangout that Picasso once frequented, has long been a favorite of Macron and his wife Brigitte.
The former investment banker held strategy meetings there as he prepared for his 2017 presidential bid and has been known to dine there with his wife since winning power.
In a decision criticized as elitist by his opponents at the time, Macron used La Rotonde to entertain staff and political allies of a party after he won the first round of voting in 2017.
