Hundreds of Thousands Join Nationwide Strikes in France Over Cost of Living
Around half a million protesters marched across France on Thursday, prompting clashes with police, dozens of arrests and injuries as unions demand higher wages and tax reforms.
Hundreds of thousands of workers took to the streets in cities across France on Thursday, demanding higher wages and tax reforms amid rising living costs. The CGT union estimated participation at 1.6 million, while the interior ministry reported 575,000 demonstrators, including 60,000 in Paris. Police said 448 arrests were made and 53 officers were injured during clashes that saw tear gas deployed in several locations, such as Lyon where a vehicle was set alight.
Union leader Sophie Binet told rally participants that the focus was on "how much we're going to win" rather than simply winning. Protesters from diverse backgrounds, including winegrower Martin Thiberge in Lyon and social worker Lea in Marseille, voiced frustration over wages and the cost of living.
The demonstrations coincided with a wave of student protests across Europe and followed earlier unrest on Oct. 17, which authorities described as the most severe rioting in recent years. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were closed to the public.
The education sector saw blockades at 81 of the country's 3,700 high schools, while a teachers' union reported a 16% strike rate among educators. Strikes also affected rail, hospital and postal services.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the deployment of 70,000 police and security personnel and pledged a "firm response" to disorder. Internal investigations have been opened into allegations of police brutality after reports of serious injuries to teenage protesters and an attempted murder probe following petrol-bomb attacks in Paris.