On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets once again in France. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 270,000 participants were recorded across 180 different demonstrations. The trade union federation CGT reported similar high numbers, claiming that an estimated quarter of a million people participated in activities in over 70 cities.
The primary focus of the protests included fierce criticism of the current wage policy, with protesters demanding, among other things, an increase in the minimum wage, which currently stands at €12.31 gross per hour in France.
The education sector also experienced significant disruption as a result. Official reports indicate that approximately one in three higher education institutions were affected. A student union reported that 90% of universities were mobilized, either through blockades or administrative closures.
Additionally, violent incidents occurred during the protests. A fire was set at a high school in Toulouse, and a 16-year-old student was injured in La Courneuve during a school strike. Ahead of the day, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez mobilized 70,000 police officers and gendarmes in preparation for potential civil unrest.
