Hundreds of thousands of striking workers took to the streets across France on Thursday to protest the rising cost of living. The demonstrations followed weeks of youth-led protests and resulted in clashes with police in several cities, where tear gas was deployed.
The CGT union reported a turnout of 1.6 million people across France on Thursday. However, the interior ministry provided a lower estimate, stating that 575,000 people participated, which was a downward revision from an earlier figure of 600,000. The ministry also reported that 60,000 people marched in Paris. As of 6pm, the interior ministry stated that 448 people had been arrested and 53 officers were injured during the clashes.
CGT union leader Sophie Binet told a rally in Paris that the question today is not whether we’re going to win but rather how much we’re going to win. The strike is part of a broader wave of student anger across Europe, with similar protests occurring in Germany, Spain, Greece, and Italy. These movements, which began with students highlighting poor learning conditions, have coincided with public outrage over inequality and the cost of living.
While the marches were mostly peaceful, skirmishes occurred in cities like Lyon. In Lyon, at least one vehicle was torched and police fired tear gas. Winegrower Martin Thiberge, who attended the Lyon protest, stated he wanted to join the demonstrations to bring together people from across French society, saying, “We want to make a living from our work, to make a dignified wage.” In Marseille, 31-year-old social worker Lea said she was “fed up with counting every cent” and noted that the social movement has given her hope.
The unions are currently demanding tax reforms and across-the-board wage increases, while expressing complaints regarding police restrictions on certain protests. The current unrest follows a day of protest on October 17, which saw the worst rioting France has experienced in years.
The demonstrations caused significant disruptions. The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were closed for the day in Paris. The government reported that 81 out of the country’s 3,700 high schools were blockaded, while a student association claimed classes were suspended at 1,000 secondary schools. The education ministry reported that approximately 16 per cent of teachers nationwide were on strike. Strike actions were called by unions representing rail workers, public hospitals, postal services, and both public and private education unions.
