Protesters on 11 December were limited to a protest zone between the Glacis and Place de l’Europe Photo: Luc Deflorenne

Protesters on 11 December were limited to a protest zone between the Glacis and Place de l’Europe Photo: Luc Deflorenne

A designated protest zone between the Glacis and Place de l’Europe will remain in place this coming weekend, Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer said on Wednesday.

The perimeter was first introduced last weekend after protests on 4 December had turned violent and groups had stormed Christmas markets and vandalised the home of prime minister Xavier Bettel (DP).

So far, only one protest has been declared to city officials, Polfer said. Knowns as “Saturday for Liberty” or “Polonaise solidaire”, the protest drew around 500 people on 11 December. A smaller group of around 150 people tried to break through a police cordon blocking off the path to the city centre.

Police used water cannon against the protesters. A group of around 50 people later gathered near the Christmas market, which had been closed as a precaution. Around 20 people .

A “Marche Blanche” protest the following day on 12 December remained peaceful.

Police had increased their presence last weekend, calling in reinforcements from Belgium. There was no information immediately available on police presence next weekend.

During the same press conference on Wednesday, Polfer said that a programme by the city to subsidise rapid antigen tests at pharmacies and a test centre in the capital could end in December.

A final decision hasn’t yet been taken, Polfer said. But with daily testing on the horizon for employees who aren’t vaccinated or recovered, demand could increase dramatically.