About 575,000 demonstrators took to the streets across France on Thursday, according to government estimates, the largest single-day protest since riots began in conjunction with national strikes in September.
Despite the scale of these protests, and the violence that marred a similar march on October 17, the day passed relatively peacefully, although there were localized clashes in cities across France.
Some workers also went on strike, depleting staff at some schools, universities, railways, and to a lesser extent hospitals.
The diversity of sectors involved reflects how many groups are now taking part in these protests, ranging from students demanding better conditions in schools to movements involving trade unions and yellow vest protesters.
Each group has its own concerns, but they are united by broad grievances: the cost of living, perceived government inaction, widening wealth disparities, and a deep desire for social and political change.
Some of France’s largest trade unions, representing everyone from students, teachers and postal workers to doctors, pharmacists and transport workers, today called for a nationwide strike. According to government estimates, about a third of France’s higher education institutions were in “disarray” due to the demonstrations, and about 13% of all teaching staff went on strike. Unions estimated a much higher number.
Some train services were also suspended due to the workers’ strike. The French Ministry of Health told CNN that very few public hospital workers took part in the strike, making up only about 5% of the workforce. The ministry added: “No significant disruption to health services has been reported.”
Authorities and shop owners have been bracing for similar scenes at every nationwide demonstration since protests turned violent about three weeks ago. However, the French Interior Ministry said there were no major incidents, apart from “clashes between police and groups of radical and far-left activists in several cities, including Rennes, Nannes, Lyon and Marseille.” Police detained a total of 448 people.
In Lyon, police fired tear gas and charged a group of demonstrators, many of them masked, while in Rennes, authorities said “dozens” of agitators were arrested for vandalizing a hotel, throwing objects at police and “violently attacking” protesting union members.
French Education Minister Edouard Jeffrey said a school near Toulouse was severely damaged in a “deliberate act of arson”, and firefighters were called to fight 86 fires across the country, the Interior Ministry said.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said: “In a situation where there were once again numerous acts of violence, law enforcement officers responded with courage and determination to ensure that the right to protest was exercised peacefully and safely, despite controversial charges of interfering with the right to protest.”
What are the protesters demanding?
Each group participating in these protests has slightly different demands. The unions that called for a strike today are demanding higher wages and pensions. In particular, the CGT, one of France’s most prominent trade unions, has called for an immediate 10% increase in the minimum wage. Another trade union, the CFDT, is demanding an increase of 100 euros, about 7% of the minimum monthly salary.
Meanwhile, student groups are demanding an increase of more than $10 billion to the education budget, as well as $1.5 billion in investments in school infrastructure and an additional 250,000 college seats.
The gilets jaunes, or yellow vests, a radical movement that first emerged eight years ago, demands the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron and his government and a new constitutional process.
In short, yes. None of these demands will be easily achieved, and demonstrators have indicated they intend to continue demonstrating until Christmas and possibly until next spring’s French presidential elections. Looking ahead just to the next few days, the Yellow Vests are planning to hold protests on Friday and Saturday.
In other parts of Europe where similar protest movements have emerged, strikes are planned for later this month in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Belgium.
How are authorities dealing with protests?
According to Reuters, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday that authorities remained “extremely vigilant” in preparation for such protests, following the unsuspecting arrest on October 17. But while local security forces have largely succeeded in quelling the violence, Mr Macron has been criticized for failing to adequately respond to protesters’ demands.
“I hope that high schools can reopen after the holidays, because when we think about the future of young people, they need to be able to go back to class,” he told French journalist and YouTuber Hugo Decrypto.
He insisted that young people’s “voices have been heard” and called for them to “return to classes, restore peace and reopen high schools under appropriate conditions” despite continued protests.
