France protests over living costs and education for fourth weekend
Four Weeks of Protests Across France Over High Living Costs and Education Standards
Hundreds of thousands of students and workers took to the streets across Paris and other major French cities on November 7, 2026, marking the fourth weekend of large-scale protests against surging living costs and inadequate educational conditions, yna.co.kr reported.
Authorities and Unions Report Conflicting Protest Crowd Sizes
The demonstrations followed a major general strike two days prior that had drawn an estimated 600,000 participants according to authorities and 1.6 million according to unions. For the Saturday rallies, the French Ministry of the Interior estimated total nationwide participation at 146,000, with 46,000 demonstrators in Paris. Meanwhile, labor unions put the figures higher, claiming 250,000 nationwide and 75,000 in the capital. Additional reporting by YTN noted localized turnouts of over 10,000 in Lille and over 5,000 in Marseille.
Heavy Security Deployment and Clashes in Regional Hubs
To prevent a recurrence of the looting and arson seen during protests in October, authorities deployed 70,000 police and security personnel nationwide, supported by armored vehicles and water cannons, yna.co.kr reported. In Paris, police conducted around 15,000 checks at suburban train stations ahead of the marches and arrested 18 individuals. While the Paris marches began largely peacefully, sporadic clashes erupted as the crowds dispersed. In Lyon, where authorities had banned the march for safety reasons, police fired tear gas to disperse defiant protesters, resulting in 11 arrests, according to YTN.
Unauthorized Demonstrations at Place de la Concorde
Members of the “Yellow Vest” movement gathered at Place de la Concorde for an unapproved assembly separate from the main labor and student marches, and faced off against police.
Government Faces Pressure as Upcoming Strikes and Talks Loom
The demonstrations come as President Emmanuel Macron’s government faces pressure with presidential elections less than six months away and the far-right gaining ground. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to meet with union and employer representatives on November 10 to discuss wages and inflation. Student unions and teacher organizations have announced plans for fresh strikes and protests on November 10, demanding increased education funding.
