France saw a third straight weekend of protests on Saturday, 31 October, as young people and their supporters took to the streets over the rising cost of living, education and public services.
In Paris, the march ended in clashes near Porte de Charenton, where demonstrators threw paving stones and a Molotov cocktail at police. Officers responded with tear gas and baton charges, while a nearby car was set on fire.
Earlier, students had denounced what they described as the government’s dismissive attitude towards young people and defended their right to protest peacefully.
The French Interior Ministry estimated that 320,000 people took part in rallies nationwide, while youth organisations put the turnout at nearly 500,000. In Paris, the estimates stood at 70,000 and 200,000 respectively.
Around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed across the country, with march routes in the capital redirected away from central areas and government buildings.
What began as a protest over underfunded schools and teacher shortages has since grown into a broader movement over purchasing power and young people’s prospects.