Tumults in Paris leave Portuguese without work and with losses

Othe riots in Paris left several Portuguese-French temporarily without work and with losses due to the use of its construction material in violence actions, according to the president of the association CIVICA, which brings together thousands of Portuguese mayors in France.

Paulo Marques, Vice President of the Council of Portuguese Communities (CCP), told Lusa that Portuguese and French people of Portuguese origin who live in Paris or work there are being affected by the riots in the French capital.

Some commercial establishments where these Portuguese work were closed after their partial destruction or as a preventive measure and this is preventing employees from working, he said.

On the other hand, he explained, the strong Portuguese presence in the construction sector causes many Portuguese-Frenchs to bear high losses because of the misuse of material for violence actions, such as throwing against shops and building barricades.

Paulo Marques points out that these violent robberies and acts were done “on the margins of demonstrations” and “professionals of contempt and violence”.

Asked about a possible participation of Portuguese or French people of Portuguese origin in these riots, the president of CIVICA said that there is no information to this end.

According to the Diplomatic Portal of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Portuguese community in France is the largest in Europe and one of the main foreign communities established in that country, around one million people.

After the serious riots and looting that took place this weekend in the French capital and other cities, a new curfew was decreed for tonight in some areas of Paris.

At least 2,400 people were arrested throughout the country during the incidents, which included looting of hundreds of commercial establishments and attacks on public buildings.