The French Ministry of the Interior announced that around 320,000 people participated in marches across the country on Saturday, as tensions rose in several cities, including Marseille and Toulouse.
In the capital, Paris, clashes broke out between police and protesters, according to the French news agency "AFP."
About 70,000 people demonstrated in Paris, according to the capital's police. The third day of protests organized by labor unions, students, and members of the "yellow vests" movement saw a smaller crowd in Paris compared to the previous weekend, when around 110,000 people demonstrated.
The protests nationwide coincide with "Halloween" celebrations, and authorities are bracing for the possibility that rioters may use Halloween masks to conceal their identities.
The protests come two weeks after riots and looting caught security forces off guard, resulting in damage to stores, public buildings, and businesses in cities across France. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez vowed to prevent a recurrence.
The pace of protests accelerated in late September as the government began discussions over the 2027 budget.
The government is under pressure to rein in spending amid public debt nearing 120 percent of economic output and rising borrowing costs, which narrow its room for maneuver.
Students angry over the deteriorating condition of many schools, overcrowded classrooms, and a university admission system widely seen as unfair have been joined by labor unions and the "yellow vests" movement, which has resurfaced to demand action on the cost of living.