Protest France: 575,000 people participate in demonstrations in major cities; 70,000 police officers deployed | What we know | Today’s news
Nationwide demonstrations continued across France on Thursday (local time), attracting around 575,000 protesters, according to government estimates, the largest turnout since the protests began in September.
The protests were largely peaceful, despite some clashes with police in major cities such as Paris and Lyon, as some public sector workers staged a one-day strike in a renewed challenge to President Emmanuel Macron, Reuters reported.
While the Interior Ministry said 575,000 people took part in the protests, the CGT union, one of the organizers, put the figure at 1.6 million.
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Nationwide demonstrations continue: Here’s what we know
According to CNN, the demonstrations have expanded beyond students demanding better conditions in schools and attracted the participation of unions and yellow vest protesters. The protests also disrupted traffic in schools, universities, railways and, to a lesser extent, hospitals.
Several high-profile politicians also joined the protests, including presidential candidates Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Raphaël Glucksmann. The demonstrations follow protests against the high cost of living, public services and education that sparked France’s worst civil unrest in years.
The unrest in France comes just months before a presidential election that Macron cannot contest, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorna. It is preparing to meet with employee and employer groups on November 9 (local time) to discuss concerns about the cost of living and pay. The election could pit far-right candidate Marine Le Pen against hard-left rival Mélenchon in a second round.
The strike also led to a drop in France’s nuclear power output on Thursday, while the education ministry said just over 15% of the country’s teachers had joined the walkout.
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France’s mostly peaceful protests turn violent: What we know
Protests began in Lyon and other cities, including Marseille and Nantes, during the morning, while the main march in Paris began later in the afternoon from the Place de la République.
At the start there was a festive mood in Paris, with a large group of participants singing “La Marseillaise” and several carnival floats. The one-day strike attracted participants from energy workers and teachers, and the Eiffel Tower was closed. However, there was no major disruption to transport services in Paris.
Two hours later, several people at the head of the march clashed with the police, who fired tear gas. Citing Paris police, Reuters reported that several hooded individuals committed acts of vandalism, prompting officers to intervene to stop the incidents and isolate those involved.
In Lyon, in southeastern France, about 470 km southeast of Paris, riot police used tear gas against protesters and charged the group, some of whom shouted anti-police slogans. The interior ministry said several hundred protesters faced police in Lyon. Although violence was quelled, tensions remained high.
As the demonstrations drew to a close, some protesters clashed with police, while authorities had to put out at least one small fire near the protest site. The Interior Ministry reported that at least 53 police officers were injured and more than 448 people were arrested.
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Around 70,000 police officers were deployed across the country, a figure comparable to recent weekends. The French government defended the police actions, while insisting that any cases of misconduct would be investigated.
Since demonstrations turned violent about three weeks ago, authorities and traders have been bracing for similar scenes in each of the nationwide protests that have followed.
However, CNN reported that some train services were disrupted due to demonstrations and worker sit-ins. Citing the country’s health ministry, it said roughly 5% of hospital staff took part in the strike, adding that “no significant disruption to health services has been reported”.
The demonstrations point to growing dissatisfaction with the cost of living, public services and education, increasing political pressure on Macron’s government ahead of the next presidential election.
