Rabat – Police fired tear gas at protesters in Paris and Lyon on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France to protest the rising cost of living and problems in the education system.
The demonstrations marked the third consecutive weekend of protests, which began last month among high school students and later drew support from university students and labor unions.
A coalition of youth organizations and student unions estimated that nearly 500,000 people joined Saturday’s rallies nationwide, including 200,000 in Paris. French authorities put the national turnout at 320,000, with 70,000 demonstrators in the capital.
The Paris march began peacefully but descended into violence near its planned endpoint. Protesters set fire to bins and street furniture, while masked individuals dressed in black reportedly used hammers to remove paving stones and throw them at police. At least one incendiary device was also thrown at security forces, according to Agence France-Presse.
Riot police responded with tear gas and baton charges. Officers warned demonstrators through loudspeakers that they would deploy more tear gas unless crowds cleared the streets. Medics treated and evacuated injured protesters as some demonstrators raised their hands to signal that they posed no threat.
France’s Interior Ministry reported at least 290 arrests nationwide.
Despite the clashes, many demonstrators condemned the violence and accused the government of failing to address their concerns. Protesters have criticized deteriorating school buildings, teacher shortages, and a university admissions system they consider unfair to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held several meetings with student unions during the week and said the government had listened to their demands. Authorities are also considering measures to ease the cost of living.
Ahead of Saturday’s demonstrations, France deployed approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned of a high risk of disorder, particularly after dark during Halloween weekend. Organizers also moved the main Paris march to the city’s eastern edge following a court dispute.
The protests have also spread beyond France.
In Germany, demonstrations organized under the youth alliance “Gen Z regelt” drew an estimated 120,000 participants, according to organizers. Protesters opposed rising living costs, government budget cuts, and increased defense spending.
Police deployed water cannons and pepper spray in Frankfurt, Cologne, and Hamburg after clashes erupted. Authorities reported looting, smashed windows, and attacks on emergency services, while several people were detained and at least one police officer was injured.
Elsewhere, Spanish regional police raised their alert level in Barcelona following riots on October 24 that led to around 130 arrests, mostly involving minors. Italian police also remained on alert after clashes in Milan, Turin, and Bologna.
