Tension rose in demonstrations held throughout France due to the increasing cost of living, problems in education and disruptions in public services. While tens of thousands of people took to the streets, the police intervened with tear gas and pressurized water against the protesters. While more than 160 people were detained across the country, a tourism office was set on fire in Lyon, and protesters entered the city hall in Marseille.
COST OF LIVING PROTESTS ARE GROWING
Demonstrations in France began last month over reactions to teacher absenteeism and poorly maintained facilities in schools in poor suburbs north of Paris. The protests, which spread across the country in a short time, also included reactions to the high cost of living, inequality, insufficient public expenditures and educational conditions.
Students, teachers, union members, workers, retirees and farmers participated in the protests held on Saturday. Demonstrators demanded higher wages, better pensions and protection of public services, as well as better working and education conditions.
CGT, one of France's largest labor unions, also supported the protests. The union called for "higher wages and pensions, lower prices and protection of public services that meet people's needs."
POLICE USED TEAR GAS IN PARIS
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered around the Place de la République in the capital Paris. The police intervened with tear gas against the protesters who threw fireworks and various objects. Security forces also used water cannon to disperse the crowd.
Some demonstrators chanted "We're taking the Bastille!", a reference to the French Revolution. he shouted. A group of protesters also threw objects at the headquarters of right-wing television channel CNews and broke the building's windows.
At the beginning of the demonstrations, a group of approximately 100 people walked towards the police and chanted slogans against the police.
Intensive security measures were taken in Paris, especially around the Champs-Élysées Boulevard and the Arc de Triomphe. Authorities also increased police presence at important points outside the official demonstration routes.
THEY ENTERED THE CITY HALL IN MARSEILLE
In Marseille, protesters broke the door of the city hall with the security barriers they removed from the streets and briefly entered the building. One of the protesters spray-painted the letter "A", symbolizing anarchy, on the wall of the building.
Some garbage bins in the city were also set on fire. In Lyon, it was reported that hooded people broke the windows of a tourism office, set the building on fire and looted the inside.
According to French media, more than 160 people were detained in incidents across the country. Authorities stated that new arrests may occur before the main demonstration, which is planned to start at 14:00 local time.
YELLOW VEST MOVEMENT IS ON THE AGENDA AGAIN
Saturday's demonstrations followed calls on social media to revive the Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 against the high cost of living and social injustice.
The protesters wore fluorescent yellow vests and blocked the roads, reminding us of the protests held across the country in previous years. French authorities announced that approximately 32,800 people attended 140 demonstrations outside Paris by noon.
Authorities blamed "extreme leftists" for the violence in the events. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left Indomitable France Party, also supported the students by attending a demonstration on Tuesday.
MACRON GOVERNMENT FACES INCREASING REACTIONS
As President Emmanuel Macron enters the final phase of his term, political polarization and social unrest remain on the agenda in the country. Increasing cost of living is also among the main concerns of the public.
According to a survey of 2,000 people conducted in October, approximately 45 percent of French people are worried about the cost of living and inflation.
The institution that supervises the police defended the interventions of the security forces and announced that they "will not step back against the rebels." On the other hand, the intervention methods used by the police in recent weeks have also increased public debate.
