The French Ministry of the Interior announced today, Thursday, that approximately 600,000 demonstrators participated in ongoing protest marches across the country until 5 PM, amidst widespread strikes demanding higher wages, improved public services, and better living and educational conditions.
Massive protests were witnessed in the capital Paris and in the cities of Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, and Toulouse, called by labor unions, with the participation of employees, students, and retirees, in protest against the rising cost of living, decreased purchasing power, and the lack of funding for educational institutions and public services.
Clashes erupted between demonstrators and police forces in Paris and Lyon, during which security forces used tear gas to disperse groups of protesters, while other cities experienced tensions and sporadic violence, including throwing objects at security personnel and setting fires in some locations.
In Toulouse, a fire broke out in a high school due to fireworks, prompting the evacuation of students and staff and the intervention of firefighting teams, while Paris witnessed attempts to shut down several educational institutions and block roads.
The strikes have led to disruptions in public transport and railways, the closure of the Eiffel Tower to visitors, as well as the suspension of classes in several schools, while the Ministry of Education announced the closure of 81 high schools due to protest barriers and that over 15 percent of teachers participated in the strike.
In contrast, the French authorities announced the deployment of around 70,000 police and gendarmerie personnel across the country, supported by armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, and riot control equipment, to secure more than 220 anticipated protest actions and to prevent a recurrence of the violence seen in the country in recent weeks.
Labor unions are demanding an increase in the minimum wage, improvements in salaries and pensions, and additional funding for schools and hospitals, along with a review of tax policies and public spending cuts.
These protests come as an extension of a wave of movements that began last September due to a lack of staff and educational resources, before expanding to include economic and social demands, amidst ongoing pressure on the French government regarding wages, public services, and the draft budget for 2027.