Protests: Renewed mass protests in France – clashes with police

Paris, Lyons. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police during nationwide protests and a public sector strike in France on Thursday. While the rallies were largely peaceful, there were riots in Paris and Lyon.

According to the Interior Ministry, more than 600,000 people took to the streets during the protests. The CGT union spoke of almost 1.6 million participants in more than 200 demonstrations across the country, including, according to its estimate, 350,000 in Paris. The figures exceeded the figures from October 17, when protests led to riots and looting.

According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, 70,000 police officers were deployed, supported by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters. The CGT said the high turnout in the demonstrations marked a new stage in mobilization. She will continue her fight “for as long as necessary” to force the government and employers to give in to her demands.

In Paris, the initially peaceful mood changed when some demonstrators clashed with the police, who then used tear gas. 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.