Tens of thousands protest across France over inflation and police powers

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on Saturday, expressing discontent over a variety of issues, including the rising cost of living and proposals to grant police greater legal protection. The protests, which have been ongoing for over a month, saw an estimated 106,000 participants nationwide, with 24,000 in Paris, according to the interior ministry.

Student unions reported a figure of 200,000, with nearly 100,000 in the capital city. The number of arrests was notably lower than in previous demonstrations, with 219 people detained across the country, and 45 in Paris, according to the ministry and prosecutors.

At the protests, a recurring chant was "No justice, no peace," while others called for the resignation of the president or complained about perceived police brutality. A large puppet carried by demonstrators bore the message "Lord Macron." Some protesters expressed fear about a new bill in parliament that would provide more protection for police officers who use their weapons.

This bill, supported by far-right parties and presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen, aims to presume police acted in self-defense, a measure activists argue would hinder investigations and accountability. Conversely, others rallied for better learning conditions, children's rights, and a better future for France.

In Bordeaux, 72-year-old Josette sang the protest song "I have two passions: brass bands and revolution," expressing gratitude to the youth for starting the movement. She hoped the demonstrations would give citizens hope amid concerns about a worsening environment and the rise of far-right movements. In Toulouse, Kenza, a 28-year-old asylum law specialist, criticized the government's response to the unrest, emphasizing that the repression of protesters, especially children, was unacceptable.

While the majority of the rallies were peaceful, some incidents of violence occurred, including police using tear gas in Paris, Bordeaux, and Nantes. In Lyon, police intervened to shield television reporters from protesters. Despite the protests, unions have rejected a government promise to increase the minimum wage by 0.6 percent, calling for new strikes on Tuesday. The largest recent demonstrations took place during a union-led strike on Thursday, when over half a million people participated nationwide.