On Saturday, November 7, large-scale protests were held across France against the rising cost of living and in support of the youth. Although the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, the police reported the arrest of 360 people nationwide, according to BFMTV.
According to the French Ministry of the Interior, 146,000 people participated in the protests, while organizers estimated the number of participants at 250,000.
The Ministry reported that protests took place in 141 locations. In Paris, authorities estimated 46,000 people took to the streets, while organizers counted 75,000. Approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes ensured security across the country.
Clashes occurred in several major cities. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse several hundred people gathered in a zone where protests were prohibited in the city center.
According to BFMTV, local authorities reported 13 arrests during the clashes. In Paris, the main march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation was peaceful, but incidents occurred afterward involving groups of protesters.
Authorities also reported around 40,000 preventive checks at roads leading to city centers and railway stations. The Ministry of the Interior noted that some groups tried to enter zones where protests were banned and threw various objects and pyrotechnic devices at law enforcement officers.
The demonstrations mainly involved schoolchildren, students, and young workers. Besides dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living, protesters also voiced opposition to police violence, economic instability, and worsening prospects for youth.
The number of participants in the protests continues to decline. One week ago, on October 31, the Ministry counted 320,000 protesters, and on October 17, 550,000. At the same time, organizers' and authorities' estimates of the scale of the protests typically differ.
On Monday, November 9, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will hold talks with representatives of trade unions and employers and also meet with youth organizations.
The trade unions have announced that further actions will be decided after these consultations. New strikes and protests in the education sector have already been announced for Tuesday.
