Tens of thousands protest across France for fifth consecutive weekend

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday to demonstrate against the rising cost of living and strained public services, the Interior Ministry said.

Some 106,000 people marched through French cities, with 24,000 in Paris alone. The previous weekend, some 146,000 people had participated nationwide.

The number of arrests was also significantly lower. Police detained 219 people across the country, according to the Interior Ministry.

Although the demonstrations were largely peaceful, police fired tear gas in Paris, Bordeaux and the western city of Nantes, including after some protesters shot fireworks.

Origins and spread of the protests

What began in September as student protests against teacher shortages and poor facilities has since evolved into a broader movement fuelled by anger over the rising cost of living, strained public services and police brutality.

In mid-October, around 565,000 people took to the streets across France, as riots, looting and clashes disrupted demonstrations in several cities.

Government context

As France entered its fifth consecutive weekend of nationwide unrest, President Emmanuel Macron's approval ratings fell to the lowest level since he took office in 2017, according to recent polls.

The French government doesn't have much room to respond to the protesters' demands due to its high debt.

Why it matters

The protests mark the fifth consecutive weekend of nationwide demonstrations in France, with turnout declining from 146,000 the previous weekend to 106,000 on Saturday. The movement has grown from student protests over school conditions into a wider expression of public grievances about living costs and public services.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Estonia to close all border crossings with Russia after attack on drone maker | Estonia | The Guardian
• dw.com: Tens of thousands continue to protest across France

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.