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Paris: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest rising living costs, soaring fuel prices and deteriorating public services, with clashes between demonstrators and police reported in several cities.
The demonstrations brought together secondary school students, trade union members, workers and supporters of the Yellow Vest movement, uniting demands for better education, higher wages, lower consumer prices and improved public services. The rallies were held across the country amid mounting social discontent.
In Paris, several hundred protesters, mostly secondary school students, gathered near the Gare du Nord railway station and erected street blockades. Police imposed security cordons, deployed riot officers and closed some metro stations around key gathering points, including Place de la République.
Clashes broke out as some demonstrators reportedly climbed a monument and threw flares towards police. Officers responded with tear gas, while similar confrontations between masked protesters and police were reported in Marseille, France’s second-largest city.
At least 40 people had been arrested in Paris by mid-morning, according to the information provided by authorities. Police said early arrests were primarily linked to the possession of weapons or prohibited protective equipment during security checks.
The nationwide protests reflect growing frustration over both economic pressures and longstanding problems in the education system. Student organisations, including the Union Syndicale Lycéenne, have been mobilising for weeks over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school facilities.
Their movement has increasingly converged with broader public anger over inflation and rising fuel costs, drawing support from trade unions and groups seeking to revive the Yellow Vest movement that shook France in 2018.
President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm, defending the right to peaceful protest while urging demonstrators to respect people and property.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the violence, describing the unrest as urban violence rather than simply a student movement. He also accused the left-wing party La France Insoumise, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of exploiting student grievances for political gain.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray also called for an end to violence and urged dialogue to address students’ concerns following visits to schools affected by vandalism.
Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, voiced concern over the unrest and Mélenchon’s influence on the protest movement.
The demonstrations have added to pressure on the French government as it confronts overlapping economic and social challenges. While officials have called for dialogue and a return to order, protesters continue to demand action on household expenses, education funding and the quality of public services. Source: BBC News