France Sees Protests Over Living Costs and Schools
Hundreds of thousands of mostly young protesters demonstrated across France on October 31, 2026, marking a third consecutive weekend of nationwide rallies over living costs and crumbling educational infrastructure, cbc.ca reported.
National Turnout Figures Compared With Previous Weeks
France’s interior ministry estimated that 320,000 people protested nationwide on Saturday. That figure represents a drop from previous weekends. Government estimates recorded more than 500,000 protesters during mass demonstrations on October 17, and 410,000 participants on October 24, according to cbc.ca. Organizers released much higher turnout numbers than the government estimates.
In Paris, approximately 70,000 people marched. Authorities rerouted the capital’s marches to the eastern edge near Porte de Bagnolet to protect city-centre shops, cbc.ca reported.
Police Deploy 70,000 Officers for Halloween Curfews
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a very high risk of disorder, particularly after dark on Halloween. Authorities deployed about 70,000 police and gendarmes nationwide. Police barred people from entering Paris locations including Place de la République and Les Halles between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., while unaccompanied minors faced a separate 9 p.m. curfew around the Champs-Élysées, cbc.ca reported. A Paris court had previously suspended an earlier curfew on minors on Wednesday, calling it an illegal infringement on freedom of movement.
By Saturday night, authorities reported more than 560 arrests nationwide, cbc.ca noted, while bbc.com reported at least 290 arrests and The Guardian cited 511 arrests. While the vast majority of demonstrators remained peaceful, groups of masked rioters targeted security forces with fireworks, projectiles, and paving stones pryed up with hammers, according to Al Jazeera. Police responded with tear gas, stun grenades, water cannons, and baton charges.
Divergent Grievances Shared by Students and Workers
Protesters carried diverse banners representing high school students, climate activists, and citizens angered by the cost of living. Corentin Cabreux, a 21-year-old student living in a state-run residence, told cbc.ca that his building suffered from peeling walls, damp stains, rats, and cockroaches. The movement initially began over neglected school buildings, teacher shortages, and university admissions systems. Labour unions subsequently joined President Emmanuel Macron’s administration in facing the unrest.
Protesters told aljazeera.com that trust in the government has gone. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held meetings with student unions during the week to examine measures addressing the cost of living.
Spread of Youth-Led Rallies Across European Cities
Demonstrations also erupted in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. In Germany, a youth initiative named “Gen Z regelt!” organized rallies in multiple cities, with organizers claiming over 180,000 online registrations and several thousand turning out to march for education, health, climate protection, and affordable living, cbc.ca reported.
German police deployed an additional 1,500 officers in Berlin and used water cannons in Cologne to disperse crowds after fireworks were thrown, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera. In The Hague, authorities maintained a heavy police presence following online protest calls, while shops boarded up windows. In Barcelona, regional police activated high-level alerts following prior rioting on October 24 that resulted in about 130 arrests, mostly of minors.
Students Join Worker Demonstrations on November 5
Sabrine Kharbach of the student organization Union Étudiante told The Guardian that students will join a broader demonstration called by workers and trade unions on November 5, following school and university blockades held throughout the week.