270,000 march in France as strikes halt schools and transport

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez counted 270,000 participants in 180 union-organized rallies outside Paris on Thursday afternoon. The figure represents the scale of nationwide strikes and demonstrations designed to pressure the French government on wages and pensions.

These protests follow more than a month of recurring large-scale marches. The action began in September at a high school southeast of Paris. It started with staff shortages but quickly expanded to include students demanding education funding and workers seeking relief from rising fuel and food costs.

The Paris march started at Place de la République. Students carried signs stating that inequalities jeopardize their future. They joined workers and retirees who demanded higher pay. The crowd was large, and the atmosphere was initially peaceful.

The strikes disrupted daily life across the country. About one-third of French high schools closed or could not operate. Some closures were due to student blockades, while others resulted from teacher strikes. Public transportation faced interruptions in specific areas. Authorities also closed the Eiffel Tower.

Police deployed 70,000 officers to manage the events. They used armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters. Nuñez noted that most rallies outside the capital were peaceful, though tensions rose in several locations. In Rennes, masked individuals attempted to block roads. Local authorities reported that young people, often with adults, threw steel balls at police.

Similar incidents occurred in Lyon, Nantes, Pau, Orléans, and Toulouse. Authorities described these events as scuffles and other incidents. Police have faced criticism in recent weeks for injuring protesters. Officials blamed masked far-left radicals for much of the violence, claiming they sought to incite insurrection and looting.

French unions issued a joint statement warning that the country is near recession. They noted that layoff plans are increasing. The statement listed fuel, food, rent, gas, and electricity as costs that are rising while wages and pensions remain stagnant. France currently has one of the worst economic performances in Europe, alongside Italy and Belgium.

Protesters cited specific grievances in the streets. Garance Blaise, a 21-year-old university student in Paris, said the movement reflects a global frustration with job security. She noted that her parents share these concerns. Corinne Cucchini, from the Private Healthcare Federal Union, protested staff shortages and equipment lack at her Paris hospital. Fabien Villedieu of the SUD-Rail union criticized President Emmanuel Macron and the national rail company SNCF for lacking reason.

The government had been negotiating with unions to limit the protest movement. These talks aimed to prevent further unrest. The strikes now overlap with the presidential election campaign scheduled for next May. Macron cannot seek a third term. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is currently the favorite to win.

Several candidates joined the Paris march. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left figure, participated alongside Marine Tondelier of the Green party and Raphaël Glucksmann of the moderate left. Paul Smith, a French history professor at the University of Nottingham, described the current government's operation as a source of absolute frustration. He stated that the next president will face a stack of problems.