A new wave of mass protests swept across France on October 24, as demonstrators rallied against the soaring cost of living, social inequality, and cuts to public services. Demonstrations took place in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, and other cities across the country. In several locations, initially peaceful rallies escalated into clashes with police, while the number of arrests approached 1,000.
France 24 reported the developments, citing the French Interior Ministry, trade unions, and AFP.
According to official figures, at least 410,000 people took to the streets across France, including 110,000 in Paris. Protest organizers, however, reported significantly higher numbers, claiming nearly 800,000 participants nationwide, with approximately 250,000 gathering in the capital.
The demonstrators’ main demands included improving purchasing power, protecting public services, ensuring adequate funding for education, and promoting social justice.
The latest wave of protests has presented another challenge for President Emmanuel Macron’s government. A week earlier, approximately 550,000 people participated in demonstrations, according to Interior Ministry estimates. Those protests were accompanied by widespread unrest, rioting, and looting.
In Paris, the demonstration ended in clashes with law enforcement. Near Porte de Vincennes, some protesters began throwing objects at police officers. Security forces responded with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
According to police, more than 500 rioters attacked law enforcement officers toward the end of the demonstration in the capital. There were also reports of an attempted break-in at a car dealership.
Jean-Luc Mรฉlenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party, strongly criticized the police response. He accused officers of indiscriminately deploying tear gas and firing into the crowd. In his view, law enforcement deliberately provoked an escalation of violence toward the end of the march.
However, these accusations remain the politician’s allegations rather than independently established facts.
A particularly serious incident occurred in Toulouse, where a demonstrator suffered a severe hand injury during clashes with police.
According to a medic who treated the injured protester, the explosion of an unidentified device may have caused the loss of several fingers on the person’s right hand. Local authorities confirmed the injury but emphasized that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
In Toulouse, local authorities estimated that 26,500 people participated in the protests, while the CGT trade union reported a turnout of 80,000.
In Lyon, approximately 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets despite restrictions on public gatherings in the city center. Police attempted to disperse groups of protesters to prevent further confrontations.
According to the latest figures reported by France 24, citing the interior minister, nearly 1,000 people were arrested across France on Saturday. Authorities warned that the number could rise.
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