French Protests for New Reasons

French police clashed today, Saturday, with protesters opposing the construction of a large irrigation water reservoir. Thousands of protesters gathered at the planned site for the reservoir in the rural area of Saint-Sulin. Police used tear gas to disperse some protesters who launched fireworks and other projectiles while crossing fields to approach the fenced construction area. Television footage showed fires burning in at least two police vehicles. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that the government deployed over three thousand police officers to confront the protesters, who, according to regional governor Emmanuel Dubé, are expected to include "about a thousand hardliners among the protesters, believed to number at least six thousand." Last summer's worst drought in France raised the stakes in the debate over water resources in the largest agricultural sector in the European Union. Supporters argue that industrial reservoirs are a means of using water efficiently when needed, while opponents contend that they are overly large and favor large farms.