Home · World · Nov 5 archive

France Sees Nationwide Protests Over Cost of Living

8:06 PM ETConfirmedShare via:          

World Desk

In Short: More than 600,000 people protested across France on Thursday against rising living costs and public spending cuts.

French authorities braced for nationwide protests on Thursday, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expecting more than 220 protests across the country. Demonstrators from student movements, trade unions, and the 'Gilets Jaunes' joined forces to march against rising living costs and public spending cuts.

The protests, which began in October, have seen more than 600,000 people take to the streets, with organizers estimating up to 700,000 participants. In Paris alone, more than 100,000 people demonstrated, while nationwide, over 400,000 took part.

In Lyon, protesters threw projectiles at police, prompting officers to fire tear gas. Nationwide, up to 70,000 police were deployed in cities like Marseille, Grenoble, and Lyon to maintain order.

The protests have been marked by violence, with a high school set on fire in Toulouse and widespread looting reported. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence, noting that 215 students and 85 staff had been hurt, along with 715 police officers.

French trade unions have launched nationwide strikes and demonstrations, stepping up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's government. CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet called for wage increases and a revision of the government's draft budget, which she described as 'catastrophic for the country.'

Student protests are resuming as the midterm break at French high schools comes to an end. Education Minister Edouard Geffray reported that second-year high school classes in the least advantaged communities will be capped at 28 students from the 2027 school year.

France's 10-year yield rose to its highest level since July 2002, reflecting the economic impact of the protests. The protests have also drawn international attention, with Iran accusing France of 'violent treatment' of protesters and 'extensive and flagrant human rights violations.'

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• French authorities braced for nationwide protests on Thursday, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expecting more than 220 protests across the country. Demonstrators from student movements, trade unions, and the 'Gilets Jaunes' joined forces to march against rising living costs and public spending cuts.
• The protests, which began in October, have seen more than 600,000 people take to the streets, with organizers estimating up to 700,000 participants. In Paris alone, more than 100,000 people demonstrated, while nationwide, over 400,000 took part.
• In Lyon, protesters threw projectiles at police, prompting officers to fire tear gas. Nationwide, up to 70,000 police were deployed in cities like Marseille, Grenoble, and Lyon to maintain order.
• The protests have been marked by violence, with a high school set on fire in Toulouse and widespread looting reported. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence, noting that 215 students and 85 staff had been hurt, along with 715 police officers.
• Student protests are resuming as the midterm break at French high schools comes to an end. Education Minister Edouard Geffray reported that second-year high school classes in the least advantaged communities will be capped at 28 students from the 2027 school year.

What's still developing

• Those attending will include demonstrators from the student protest movement, French trade unions and the "Gilets Jaunes" -- or Yellow Vests -- who drove nationwide anti-government protests from 2018 to 2020.
• "The high cost of living, the concerns of our high school and college students about their future: these are legitimate preoccupations that call for concrete responses," he wrote in a post to X.
• The head of France's second-largest union, the CGT, urged unions and workers to "generalize the strike."
• Since then, more than 250,000 people have joined the massive wave of student-led protests currently rocking France, raising critical questions about whether this movement will drive systemic reform or inspire broader social movements across Europe.
• Italy, like France, witnessed a day of protests on Saturday — several turning violent — as some Italian politicians blamed the extreme left for the lawlessness.
• France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said on Friday that officials have found numerous calls from hard-left groups on the internet encouraging attacks and urging activists to target public buildings.
• Europe Protests: Halloween celebrations on Saturday took an unusual turn across parts of Europe as thousands of people dressed in costumes joined protests over rising living costs.
• | Credit: Vatican Media The hot-button issue of immigration has invited itself into Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey to France, otherwise marked by the defense of human life and the remarkable signs of Catholic revival currently emerging across the country.
• Paris – France was reeling on Sunday from widespread damage caused in violent protests the day before that saw 1,800 people arrested, a historic town hall torched and widespread looting.

Sources

• ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
• BBClink
• Latest news from Azerbaijanlink
• Politics Todaylink
• School of Foreign Service | Georgetown Universitylink
• TheReport.livelink
• Warpbeatlink
• upilink
• 파이낸셜뉴스link
• Fox Newslink
• BBClink
• The New York Timeslink
• Sanlink
• Thedailyjagranlink
• Arabnewslink
• Stkittsgazettelink
• DRM News — video link