Tens of thousands continue to protest across France
Some 106,000 people marched through French cities for a fifth consecutive weekend of protests, marking the lowest turnout in recent weeks.
Over a hundred thousand individuals participated in demonstrations across France on Saturday, protesting against escalating living expenses and overburdened public services, according to the Interior Ministry. The nationwide turnout marked a decline from the prior weekend when approximately 146,000 people took part.
Police made fewer arrests during this weekend's protests, with only 219 individuals detained across the country. Despite the generally peaceful nature of the events, tear gas was deployed by authorities in Paris, Bordeaux, and Nantes, following instances of protesters setting off fireworks.
The protests, which have been ongoing for over a month, initially began as student demonstrations concerning teacher shortages and subpar facilities. However, they have since transformed into a broader movement driven by frustration over the rising cost of living, strained public services, and police misconduct.
In mid-October, an estimated 565,000 people gathered in cities throughout France, with rioting, looting, and confrontations disrupting the demonstrations in several urban centers. As the unrest entered its fifth consecutive weekend, President Emmanuel Macron's approval ratings plummeted to their lowest point since assuming office in 2017, according to recent polls.
Given the French government's limited capacity to address the protesters' demands due to its significant debt, the situation remains unresolved.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
