By Stephen Simon
Hundreds of thousands of workers, students and retirees have taken to the streets across France to demand higher wages, improved pensions and urgent action to address the rising cost of living.
The demonstrations, held in more than 200 locations on Thursday, attracted sharply different attendance estimates from the authorities and organised labour.
While France’s Interior Ministry put the number of participants at more than 600,000, the CGT trade union estimated that nearly 1.6 million people joined the protests nationwide.
The rallies were organised by major public and private sector unions and also drew support from students campaigning for improved education funding and better employment prospects.
Protesters expressed concerns over rising household expenses, stagnant wages, pension conditions, healthcare staffing and government spending on public services.
Although the main march in Paris was largely peaceful, clashes and incidents of violence were reported in some cities.
Police arrested at least 448 people, while the government deployed about 70,000 officers nationwide to maintain security.
The protests also disrupted transport services, schools and other public activities, with strikes and blockades affecting several parts of the country. The Eiffel Tower was also temporarily closed.
The demonstrations have increased pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government as it grapples with economic difficulties, public dissatisfaction and disagreements over the country’s proposed 2027 budget.
