In brief
On Saturday, over 140,000 people rallied in France to protest the high cost of living, sparking tear‑gas incidents in Paris and Lyon as 70,000 security forces were deployed. The protest, part of a series of weekly marches, drew support from workers, students, and unions and came amid tensions before the April presidential election. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned authorities were ready to respond to any rioters or looters.
More than 140,000 people marched across France on Saturday as part of a fourth consecutive weekend of protests over the rising cost of living, drawing police forces from Paris to Lyon and prompting a resurgence of tear‑gas use at crowds. Official estimates from the Ministry of the Interior put the nationwide turnout at 146,000, with 46,000 in Paris and 70,000 security personnel stationed throughout the country. The unions, however, claimed that about 250,000 protesters took part, including 75,000 in the capital.
The demonstrations came just days after an estimated 575,000 people joined a trade‑union rally last weekend. They follow an earlier wave that began in September over inadequate school conditions and has since grown into a broader campaign for higher salaries and better living standards for workers and students alike.
Nation‑wide, riot police moved into action when groups of hundreds blocked streets and tried to set up unauthorized gatherings. In Paris, footage shown by the CLPRESS news agency captured police firing tear gas at crowds, with one officer seen striking a protester with a baton. Police said that a group of about 200 people attacked officers while they were arresting a man who had set a rubbish bin on fire in a square. In Lyon, tear gas was also deployed to disperse several hundred protesters blocking a central road.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that authorities were “ready and waiting” for anyone engaging in rioting or looting, underscoring the tense atmosphere ahead of the April presidential election, which is moving into a heated debate between far‑right and far‑left candidates.
Natacha Butler, Al Jazeera reporter, said:
“I spoke to one railway worker who told me it was really important to be here today. He said not only was it important to protest against the cost of living, but that it was also important to support young people.”
She added that the protests have become a powerful platform for workers to press the government for demand for better wages and conditions, showing that the unrest extends beyond just student demonstrations.
