In France, people from Paraíba report tension with protests against rising costs of living: 'Claiming for everything'

Walfran Campos was passing through the city of Angers, in western France, and shared reports about the tense climate, marked by a strong police presence.

Last Saturday (7) Walfran Campos, from Paraíba, reported tension in France during protests against the cost of living. There was a strong police presence.

In Angers he witnessed damaged establishments and clashes between police and protesters. Near Amiens, a historic site was set on fire.

Started in September by students, the acts demand salary increases and shake the Macron government. The population contests the price increase and the 2027 fiscal adjustment.

A series of demonstrations involving students, workers and public servants have taken place in several cities in France in recent weeks. Last Saturday (7), Walfran Campos, from Paraíba, who is in the country, reported how the protests have been happening. See the video above.

The acts are motivated by demands for improvements in education and health services, salary increases and measures to reduce the cost of living. Understand more below.

The man from Paraíba, who is passing through the city of Angers, in the west of France, recorded the movement on the streets in videos and shared with g1 reports about the tense atmosphere, marked by a strong police presence.

Walfran explained that he passed through areas where demonstrations were taking place, although he did not directly participate in the protests. During the journey, he witnessed damaged commercial establishments, destroyed bus stop structures and clashes between police and protesters.

"Ah, there were a lot of protests, a lot of riots, broken stores, bus stops. [...] The police shooting, everything. It was ugly", he reported.

In addition to Angers, he mentioned situations observed in Paris and around Amiens. According to his report, the previous week, he was approximately 30 kilometers from Amiens when a historical site was set on fire during a demonstration. As a precaution, he preferred not to approach the place.

"There are protests almost every day, all over France. As I travel a lot throughout France, I travel through almost the entire region here, in the North, in Normandy and in central France, I am following it closely", he stated.

Regarding the demands, Walfran highlights that the protests take place due to a situation of non-conformity among the population with the state of several areas in the country.

"They are demanding education, health and better wages. Renting and buying a house are very expensive. They are demanding everything," he said.

Protests in France began in mid-September, organized by high school students, and spread to other groups and countries, such as Spain, Italy, Belgium and Albania.

The demonstrations, some marked by disturbances and looting, such as the one on October 17, shake up the final months of the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to leave power in May.

On some days, the demonstrations brought together almost 1.3 million people, according to authorities, but for this Thursday between 500 and 700 thousand people are expected outside Paris, and between 40 and 80 in the capital.

The unions are calling for a revaluation of the interprofessional minimum wage, an increase in all salaries, more fiscal justice and the preservation of public services.

Between rising fuel prices and the strong fiscal adjustment that the government wants in the 2027 budgets, purchasing power is at the heart of growing social unrest.