Protests in France draw 1.6 million as cost of living crisis deepens
Union leaders warn of imminent recession as student strikes expand into a nationwide labor movement ahead of May's presidential election.
By Beatriz Soto ·
More than 600,000 people marched in the streets of France on Thursday, according to the Interior Ministry, while the CGT union counted nearly 1.6 million participants in over 200 demonstrations across the country. These numbers surpass the turnout recorded on Oct. 17, when similar protests were disrupted by rioting and looting. The large scale of participation places new pressure on the current administration, which is already navigating a difficult economic climate.
The movement began in September with a protest over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. It quickly spread to other regions, drawing in students who demanded more funding for education. The focus then broadened to include workers seeking better pensions and relief from soaring prices for fuel, food, and energy. By Thursday, the demonstrations had united students, workers, and retirees in a shared demand for higher wages and improved working conditions.
Unions issued a joint statement warning that France is on the brink of recession and that layoff plans are increasing. They noted that costs for fuel, food, rent, gas, and electricity continue to rise while wages and pensions remain stagnant. The country currently ranks among the worst economic performers in Europe, alongside Italy and Belgium, and is mired in debt.
Disruptions were widespread on Thursday. About one third of high schools were closed or unable to operate due to student blockades and teacher strikes. Public transportation faced interruptions in several areas, and the Eiffel Tower was closed to the public. In Paris, the march proceeded peacefully with an estimated 350,000 attendees, according to the CGT. Demonstrators carried signs stating that inequalities jeopardize their future and that they cannot spend their lives merely trying to make a living.
Police deployed 70,000 officers, supported by armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters, to manage the events. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the deployment. While the main march in Paris was calm, sporadic tensions occurred in other cities. Authorities in Brittany reported that masked individuals tried to block roads in Rennes, and young protesters threw steel balls at police. Similar scuffles and incidents were reported in Lyon, Nantes, Pau, Orléans, and Toulouse.
The demonstrations are now intertwined with the presidential campaign for May next year. President Emmanuel Macron is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. Marine Le Pen, a far-right contender, is the current favorite to win. Several candidates joined the Paris march, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Marine Tondelier, and Raphaël Glucksmann. Paul Smith, an associate professor of French history and politics at the University of Nottingham, stated that there is a sense of absolute frustration at the government’s failure to operate, and that the next president will inherit a stack of problems to address.
The CGT vowed to continue its fight to force the government and employers to meet its demands. Fabien Villedieu, national secretary of the SUD-Rail union, said that if the government and the national rail company do not act reasonably, workers will go on strike. Corinne Cucchini of the Private Healthcare Federal Union joined the march to denounce staff shortages and a lack of equipment at her hospital, emphasizing the need for raised wages and better working conditions.
