By Fatma Younis
France is preparing for a massive day of strikes and protests on Thursday as five major unions join forces for a national mobilisation demanding higher wages and protected public services.
Hundreds of thousands expected to march
Authorities anticipate between 500,000 and 700,000 demonstrators across the country, with tens of thousands in Paris alone. The protests, which began in September with high school students decrying poor education conditions, have expanded to include the "yellow vest" movement and workers from both public and private sectors.
Unions demand wage increases and better services
The coalition is calling for a rise in the minimum wage, currently €12.31 per hour, and a net monthly increase of €100. CFDT union leader Marylise Léon said the action aims to intensify pressure on the government over the cost of living.
Major disruptions anticipated
More than 250 separate actions are planned, with disruptions already reported in schools, hospitals and public transport. Workers at oil refineries have been asked to halt production, and nuclear plant outages are expected to force France to import more electricity than it generates on Thursday.
Heavy police deployment planned
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has deployed 70,000 police and gendarmes, vowing an "extremely firm response" to any violence. The authorised march route in Paris runs from Place de la République to Place de la Nation, after a court rejected the unions' preferred path near key government buildings.
Previous unrest raises concerns
Recent protests have seen looting and arson, with over 2,000 stores looted and historic buildings set on fire on October 17. The last major mobilisation passed with relatively little violence, and police deployment will be on a similar scale.
