By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Clashes broke out between protesters and police as at least 600,000 people demonstrated across France on Thursday in a nationwide strike over living costs, public services and education, authorities said.
The Interior Ministry estimated 600,000 participants nationwide, while the CGT union, one of the organizers, put the figure at 1.6 million. Demonstrations took place in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes and other cities. The one-day strike, joined by some energy workers and teachers, shut the Eiffel Tower but caused no major transport disruptions.
Clashes and police response
In Paris, the mood was initially festive with participants singing the national anthem, but about two hours into the march from Place de la République, hooded individuals clashed with police, who fired tear gas. Paris police said they responded immediately to acts of vandalism. In Lyon, riot police fired tear gas and charged protesters, some dressed in black with face coverings, after being confronted by several hundred demonstrators. The interior ministry said violence in Lyon was contained but tensions remained high. Firefighters extinguished blazes across the country, including a large fire at a high school near Toulouse started by fireworks thrown by demonstrators. Education Minister Edouard Geffray condemned the "criminal behaviour."
Political stakes
The unrest comes five months before a presidential election that President Emmanuel Macron cannot contest. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faces pressure ahead of a Monday meeting with workers' and employers' groups on wages and living costs. The protests could shape a potential runoff between far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and hard-left rival Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Presidential candidates Mélenchon and Raphael Glucksmann attended Thursday's demonstrations.
Voices from the protests
"There is a lot of concern about the future, notably the issues of salaries, public services," said Alice Martinovic, an 18-year-old student in Paris. Mehdi Dumontroty, a 45-year-old firefighter, said pay had not kept up with inflation and referenced summer wildfires as proof more resources were needed. Sophie Binet, head of the CGT, told reporters: "The government tried to block the demonstrations. The demonstrations are bigger than ever."
Government measures and impact
Following riots on October 17 that caught security forces off guard, authorities imposed curfews, bans on large gatherings and required alternate protest routes, drawing criticism from trade unions. Around 70,000 police were deployed nationwide. The strike reduced nuclear power output early Thursday, and the Education Ministry said just over 15 percent of teaching staff participated.
