Third weekend of protests in France as youth-led rallies sweep Europe

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, inspired by the grievances of high school students, took to the streets of France over the weekend in a third consecutive wave of protests. These youth-led demonstrations were centered around issues of living costs and education across the nation. Similar protests were also held in other European countries, including Germany and Portugal.

The protests in France were largely peaceful, with a lighthearted atmosphere evidenced by participants donning Halloween costumes. However, gatherings in Paris and other cities were eventually met with tear gas and small groups setting fires on the fringes of the demonstrations. Approximately 70,000 police and gendarmes were mobilized across the country following warnings from French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez of a "very high risk" of disorder, particularly in the late hours of Halloween.

To mitigate potential disturbances, the marches in Paris were rerouted to the city's outskirts to shield stores, government establishments, and tourist hotspots in the city center. The French government estimated that around 320,000 people participated in the nationwide protests on Saturday, reflecting a substantial yet slightly reduced turnout compared to previous demonstrations.

Mass protests on October 17 had escalated into some of France's most violent riots in recent years, drawing an estimated 5 million participants.