More than 100,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday for the fifth round of protests against the rising cost of living and strained public services, Al Jazeera reported, though turnout declined from previous weekends.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that 106,000 people took part nationwide, including 24,000 in Paris, down from 146,000 people nationwide and 46,000 in Paris the week before, according to Al Jazeera. Student unions placed Saturday’s protest numbers higher at 200,000 people, including almost 100,000 in the capital, as France 24 noted.
France has been gripped by high-school blockades, mass demonstrations, and strikes for more than a month. Protesters have rallied against falling educational standards, cost-of-living increases, low wages, and police violence, Al Jazeera reported. DW.com added that President Emmanuel Macron’s approval ratings fell to the lowest level since he took office in 2017.
“No justice, no peace,” as reported by France 24, was shouted into a megaphone in Paris by a demonstrator while union members, students, and Yellow Vest activists marched for a fifth consecutive Saturday.
Clashes and Lower Arrest Figures Across French Cities
Arrest figures on Saturday were lower than at previous mass protests, with the Ministry of the Interior reporting 219 people detained across the country and Paris prosecutors recording 45 arrests in the capital, Al Jazeera stated. DW.com reported that although demonstrations remained largely peaceful, police fired tear gas in Paris, Bordeaux, and Nantes after some protesters shot fireworks.
In Marseille, where weekend protests were banned by the prefecture, some 3,500 people still took to the streets, according to Al Jazeera. Local media reported that police used tear gas and a water cannon against demonstrators in Marseille, while images showed fires burning in a popular local square.
In Lyon, roughly 8,000 people took to the streets, with local media sharing images of masked protesters chanting in front of street fires as police charged and used tear gas, Al Jazeera reported. Similar tear gas use was reported in Nantes, Bordeaux, and Paris.
Eighth Anniversary of the Yellow Vests Approaches
According to Al Jazeera, trade unions have dismissed a government proposal to raise the minimum wage by 0.6 percent as mere scraps, prompting them to schedule a fresh round of strikes for Tuesday. The demonstrations will coincide with the eighth anniversary of the Gilet Jaune movement, which began with two years of protests triggered by rising fuel prices in 2018.
As noted by Al Jazeera, citing the protest tracking site 17octobregiletjaune.net, the Yellow Vests will mark their eight-year milestone on Tuesday by gathering at the roundabouts and toll booths throughout France where the movement originally commenced. Meanwhile, high school student blockades continue, with students like 16-year-old Alex walking 90 minutes in the dark from his northern Paris suburb to help blockade his high school in Vincennes, as The Guardian reported.
Questions About French Student Protests
How many people participated in the Saturday protests?
The Ministry of the Interior reported 106,000 participants nationwide, including 24,000 in Paris, while student unions estimated the turnout at 200,000 people, according to Al Jazeera and France 24.
What issues sparked the demonstrations across France?
Protesters have rallied against the rising cost of living, low wages, falling educational standards, poor school conditions, and police violence, according to Al Jazeera and DW.com.
When did the original Yellow Vest movement begin?
The movement began in 2018 with two years of protests triggered by rising fuel prices, as Al Jazeera reported.