9:33 a.m. ET, December 5, 2019
Macron says he is “calm and determined” in the face of protests
From CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne and Melissa Bell in Paris
A woman in Marseille holds a placard picturing Macron with the word "the fall." Photo: Clement Mahoudeau/AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrations are taking place in several French cities Thursday but they are not throwing the French President off.
Emmanuel Macron is “calm and determined” in the face of the strikes and mass protests, according to a spokeswoman with the Elysee Palace.
As of 2 p.m. (8 a.m. ET), police had detained 65 people for questioning and carried out 6,476 preventative checks in Paris.
CNN’s Melissa Bell describes the atmosphere at the Paris march as “enthusiastic” and “electric."
The CGT trade union
earlier announced that Paris transport operator RATP will prolong its strike until Monday, severely impacting transport in the capital.