French interior minister rules out ban of nocturnal protest despite violent incidents

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Tuesday rejected the calls to ban nocturnal protest in the Republic Square where hundreds of people flocked every night for over a month to oppose a labor reform.

"I do not agree with those who demonstrate in the Republic Square but I will do everything to let them continue (their action)," Cazeneuve told lawmakers.

"Because I'm really a Republican, I hope that the use of force will be proportionate," he added.

Since the end of March, hundreds of youth have been occupying the Republic Square every evening for a spontaneous nocturnal sit-in to express their objection to the labor code reform.

Since then, the movement have grown to encompass a range of concerns ranging from unemployment, environment issue to migration crisis.

However, the action frequently was marred by clashes with riot police. Last Thursday, the police arrested 27 people, placing 24 of them in custody, after hooded youth refused to leave the Republic Square and threw projectiles at police officers.

A group of 150 people also set two cars on fire and destroyed shopfronts, forcing the police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd, triggering calls to evacuate the Place de la Republique.

"We are uncompromising with breakers. We are absolutely firm and the number of arrested people show that,"the French minister stressed. Endit