Hundreds of thousands are protesting in France for better living conditions

In France, according to the Interior Ministry, hundreds of thousands of people have once again taken to the streets across the country to demand better conditions at schools and universities and higher salaries. The CGT union spoke of almost 1.6 million participants in more than 200 demonstrations. There was also a strike in the public sector. About ten percent of the employees there stopped work.

While the rallies were largely peaceful, there were riots in Paris and Lyon. In the capital, the initially peaceful mood changed when some demonstrators clashed with the police, who then used tear gas. In La Courneuve, north of Paris, a teenager was stabbed near a blocked school. In Lyon, the emergency services also used tear gas against a group of people, some of whom were masked. According to the Interior Ministry, unknown people set a school on fire with fireworks near Toulouse.

Tens of thousands of police officers on duty

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower remained closed due to the strike. Numerous regional trains were canceled. In several cases, the authorities had banned rallies in city centers to prevent shops from being looted. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, 70,000 police officers were deployed across the country, supported by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters.

Over the past weekend, around 3,000 shops were damaged and looted during riots on the sidelines of the protests.

“We need concrete answers”

The day of action was another part of the wave of protests that has been rolling through the country for almost two months. Several unions had already called for this at the beginning of October. School and student associations as well as the yellow vest movement supported the call and thus ensured higher numbers of participants. Those who protest peacefully speak of a "convergence des colères", a "union of anger".

Marylise Léon, head of the CFDT union, said: "We want to send a clear message to the government that we need concrete solutions that address workers' difficulties in making ends meet at the end of the month. Purchasing power has been an issue for months. We need concrete answers!"

Blockades in front of schools across the country

In the morning, students once again set up blockades of garbage cans and barriers in front of numerous schools. According to union information, almost 1,000 of the 3,700 high schools nationwide were affected by blockades. The government reported 81 blocked schools and 16 percent strike participation among teachers. Every third university was also affected by protests.

"I'm a teacher and I'm here to defend our public service. To tell young people that they have a right to education and a future," said a demonstrator in Paris. "We are here as parents, but also as citizens. Our hearts bleed at the thought of our republic."

France's high school students have been protesting since mid-September against a shortage of teachers, school days that are too long, school buildings in a dilapidated state and the opaque allocation of university places. The government promised a new application process and more teaching positions, but student associations described this as inadequate.

Government plans “social conference”

The protests are seen as a renewed challenge for President Emmanuel Macron and the government. They take place around five months before the presidential election, in which Macron will not be allowed to run again after his second term in office.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a "social conference" for Monday to address the protesters' demands.

With information from Carolin Dylla, ARD Paris