France has yet to see real violence amid the ongoing anti-Macron riots happening in the country, France\u2019s answer to Bernie Sanders has told journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prominent French leftist Jean-Luc M\u00e9lenchon \u2014 a man frequently compared<\/a> to America\u2019s Bernie Sanders \u2014 has laughed off journalist questions over ongoing rioting taking place in the country, warning them that they have yet to see real violence yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n M\u00e9lenchon\u2019s statement comes as France finds itself in the midst of a country-wide protest movement aimed at preventing a pension age increase planned by the Emanuel Macron government from coming into force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Such protests have now regularly devolved into violence<\/a> across many French cities, with demonstrators setting fires and attacking offices belonging to political parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, according to M\u00e9lenchon, the demonstrations could be considered peaceful, all things considered, with the senior leftist figure warning journalists that they had yet to see the movement devolve into real violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t seen May 68!\u201d Le Figaro<\/em> reports<\/a> the politician as saying. \u201cYou don\u2019t know what a violent demonstration is!\u201dSUBSCRIBE<\/p>\n\n\n\n By subscribing, you agree to our terms of use<\/a> & privacy policy<\/a>. You will receive email marketing messages from Breitbart News Network to the email you provide. You may unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He went on to describe the movement as being defined by \u201cremarkable calm and pacifism\u201d in the face of the Macron government, which he says has \u201cno respect for the poor people who are struggling today\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WATCH: Macron Proclaims to ‘Regret Nothing’ as Fiery Protests Spread Across France Despite Police Ban https:\/\/t.co\/QvmpMNA4Wx<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 19, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Though M\u00e9lenchon added that he did not support violence playing a part in the protests, the leftist leader\u2019s warning that real violence has yet to take place will nevertheless worry many of the nation\u2019s officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Law enforcement in the country has already been forced to deal with widespread rioting, with vandalism and property damage<\/a> seemingly being par for the course for those policing the demonstrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protesters have also made it very clear that they view the Emmanuel Macron government with abject contempt, pouring gasoline on effigies of Macron and some of his ministers before setting them on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others have suggested that they are well and truly capable of seeing the French president dismissed from his position as head of state in a manner similar to the country\u2019s pre-revolution king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe beheaded Louis XVI and we can do it again with President Macron,\u201d protesters in Paris reportedly chanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While M\u00e9lenchon does not appear to believe things will end that badly for France\u2019s increasingly unpopular leader, he nevertheless has stated<\/a> that the government\u2019s planned reforms will end up being repealed by the Constitutional Council \u2014 a court with the power to throw out legislation that can damage the integrity of France\u2019s constitution \u2014 as a result of the protest movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Constitutional Council will cancel the whole procedure,\u201d he predicted. \u201cThe Constitutional Council knows that its role is to protect the institutions by taking into account what is happening in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n