France's major labor unions and student groups took to the streets again on the 5th (local time) to protest poor public sector services and high prices.
According to AP, AFP, and Reuters, union strikes protesting the rising cost of living and demanding wage increases took place across the country, including the capital Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nantes.
The French Ministry of the Interior provisionally calculated that more than 600,000 people had participated in protests across the country, including Paris, as of 5 p.m. on this day. The authorities estimated that 550,000, 410,000, and 320,000 people participated in the previous three large-scale weekend protests, respectively, and even though it was a weekday (Thursday), more people took to the streets.
Previously, France's domestic intelligence agency predicted that 500,000 to 700,000 people would participate in rallies outside Paris. Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior calculated that 270,000 people participated before the Paris march began around 2 p.m.
High school students also protested and blocked school entrances across the country on this day. Not only students but also teachers participated in the strike.
According to the Ministry of Education, 81 out of 3,700 high schools nationwide were sealed. However, student groups calculated that classes cannot be held normally in more than 1,000 schools, or nearly one-third.
The Ministry of Education said that about 16% of teachers nationwide participated in the strike.
Tourist attractions Paris, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were temporarily closed on this day. Public transportation was disrupted in various places.
Major labor unions issued a joint statement saying that France is on the verge of an economic downturn and plans for layoffs are increasing. “Everything is going up, including fuel, food, rent, gas, and electricity,” and “only wages and pensions are not going up.”
They said, "The anger is enormous," and urged the government, "The country's situation is fragile. Social and environmental challenges must be resolved without delay."
At the protest on this day, students and workers demanded improvements from the government, saying that various public sectors such as education, health, railways, and postal services were not operating properly.
Fabien Villedieu, secretary general of the SUD railway union, who took part in the protest in Paris, told the Associated Press, "We went on strike because the state railway SNCF and the Emmanuel Macron government are not rational."
Corinne Cuccini, a member of the Private Health and Medical Workers' Union, said, "There is a serious shortage of personnel and equipment in private hospitals in Paris," and added, "We demand wage increases and improved working conditions."
University student Garance Blaise (21) emphasized, “We must ensure that all minors in our country have a proper future.”
At the Lyon protest on this day, a banner appeared that said, "High school students, pensioners, students, and workers are all together. We must unite to win." Some wore masks or safety glasses in preparation for the police's use of tear gas.
In Marseille, young protesters held up banners reading ‘Generation Z struggle.’ Protesters in Toulouse also put up banners saying, “We work, we decide. Strike until victory,” and “High school students, workers, and people struggle.”
Martin Thiberg, a wine farmer, participated in the Lyon protests and told AFP, "I want to work and make a living. I want to receive decent wages."
Lea, a social worker who participated in the Lyon protests, said, “I am tired of living by counting every penny,” and added, “This social movement is giving us hope.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that, as with the previous weekend's protests, 70,000 police were deployed this day to prepare for violence, and armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters were also deployed.
It was mostly peaceful, but clashes between police and protesters occurred in some areas.
In Lyon, at least one car was engulfed in flames and tear gas was also sprayed.
Breton regional authorities said masked people attempted to block a road in Rennes and that youths had committed violent acts, including throwing metal balls at police.
Conflicts also occurred in Lyon, Nantes, Pau, Orleans, and Toulouse.
With less than half a year left before the French presidential election, financial instability is growing and political division is severe, so the Macron government is unable to come up with strong measures to combat the spread of protests.
President Macron convened a defense and security meeting on the 4th, the day before the protests.
“The goal for the next few weeks is to calm the floodwaters and start the presidential election in as calm conditions as possible,” an aide to President Macron told Reuters.
