Amsterdam protesters still in custody after rushing towards Emmanuel Macron

two protesters arrested for trying to confront French President Emmanuel Macron at the Amsterdam Science Park on Wednesday was still in custody late Thursday morning, said Willem Jebbink of the Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten, their lawyer. According to Jevink, President Macron did not indict the two men.

A police spokesperson identified the two as a 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman from Amsterdam. The two ran to the French president and shouted a message in French in connection with protests against France’s recent raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64. This happened just before President Macron arrived and visited the Quantum Gas and Quantum Information Laboratory at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) with King Willem-Alexander.

Authorities are due to decide on Thursday whether the man and woman will be released from custody.Jebink said he believed the two were arrested on “frivolous grounds.”

He said, “They had a banner they wanted to display in front of Macron.” , prosecutors confirmed to me today that Macron did not file charges.It is highly unlikely that my client will be charged with ‘violence against an internationally protected person’.”

Jevink said the banner includes a reference to Louis XVI, the French Revolutionary king who was beheaded in 1793. Both expressions are often used in France during anti-Macron demonstrations.

On Tuesday, there were also protests during President Emmanuel Macron’s speech in The Hague. Protesters called Macron a “president of violence and hypocrisy”. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said protests during President Macron’s visit to the Netherlands were possible, but at the same time he said he was not particularly happy about them. No,” he said at a joint press conference Wednesday night.

“I totally agree that demonstrations should be allowed, but they have to be decent,” the prime minister said. added.

“It’s normal in this day and age to get this kind of reaction,” the French president said. Said. He made it clear that he wanted to continue the reforms in France despite the fierce protests against them.

President Macron’s final event during his two-day state visit was a stop at the Rijksmuseum. He and his wife Bridget visited the museum’s critically acclaimed Vermeer exhibition with King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Rutte and museum director Octopus his Davidz.