Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France to protest the rising cost of living. Various figures have been reported regarding the turnout, with the French Ministry of Interior estimating that at least 410,000 people participated in the nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, while the trade union CGT claimed nearly 800,000 demonstrators were involved.
In Paris, the protests proceeded largely without major incidents throughout the day, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. However, Paris Police Precinct reported 635 checks before early afternoon, during which numerous prohibited items were confiscated and several arrests were made. In other cities, clashes occurred when demonstrators attempted to breach restricted areas. Over 70,000 police officers were deployed nationwide.
Earlier protests that took place last weekend saw 550,000 people take to the streets, with organizers then citing an even higher attendance of 800,000 participants. Violent scenes were reported in several locations, including Lille, Marseille, and Lyon. Specific acts of violence included autos being set on fire and shop windows being smashed in Paris, the town hall burning down in Limoges, and shops being looted in Nice.
The theme of the protests was “On en a marre” (We are fed up). The demonstrations initially started with students and trainees who were protesting for more teachers, smaller class sizes, better educational facilities, and fairness in college admissions. During the recent nationwide event, these demands were joined by “Yellow Vests” and support from unions. Amid ongoing budget negotiations, the primary focus of the protests has shifted to the high cost of living and, specifically, fuel prices.
