French President Franois Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Jan. 16, 2014.
Nineteen police officers were injured and about 250 people detained in Paris on Sunday, authorities said today, at a protest against the leadership of French President François Hollande.
No injuries were critical, police said, after an estimated 17,000 people took part in a largely peaceful demonstration against the president’s handling of the economy. Some 50 associations were involved, including far-right and conservative groups.
In an exclusive interview with TIME over the weekend, Hollande said he plans to use his upcoming trip to Washington as a chance to discuss a wide range of political and economic issues with the U.S., including intelligence sharing.
The recent focus of Hollande’s alleged affair with actress Julie Gayet, resulting in the end of his partnership with Valerie Trierweiler, took away from coverage of how he has dealt with France’s economy. Hollande is under pressure to make good on a pledge to reduce unemployment.
[AP]