Europeupdated 54m ago2 min read
MapFrance Third Weekend Of Student Protests Ends In Clashes, 296 Arrests Nationwide
“For the most part peaceful, tension flared up at the end of the rallies”
“Protestors have faced violent police repression, a recalcitrant government”
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
France's third weekend of protests saw hundreds of thousands of mainly youth demonstrators. Authorities deployed tens of thousands of police and intensified security measures.
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France protests and arrests
France saw a third consecutive weekend of student-led protests on Saturday, with yellow vests and several unions joining demonstrations as authorities imposed restrictions and warned of new disturbances. Sabrine Kharbach, spokesperson for the Union of Students, told EL MUNDO, "We all converge for the same reason: the lack of investment in public services and a cost of living that is increasingly high, while wages do not keep up." The Paris march ended in clashes between protesters and security forces, with protesters throwing flares and fireworks and officers responding with tear gas.
“In total, at least 296 people have been arrested nationwide.”
At least 296 people were arrested nationwide, while the Government claimed it counted about 320,000 people in the streets nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris. France deployed 70,000 security personnel and tightened restrictions as protests entered a third consecutive weekend.
Blockades and police risk
French student unions called for blockades of high schools and universities, with Sabrine Kharbach telling reporters, "Starting this Tuesday, we will blockade our universities and high schools, and we will do so again on Thursday". TRT World said Kharbach urged students to join the action called by high school and student unions alongside an inter-union coalition, and she added, "We will block again on Thursday and then take part in the November 5 demonstration called by workers who are going on strike." Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned of a "very high risk of public disorder" and said demonstrations would be permitted but would not be allowed in city centres, according to Hindustan Times.
PBS reported that about 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed across the country after Nunez warned of a "very high risk" of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween. RFI said the interior ministry put turnout at 320,000 nationwide with about 70,000 in Paris, while the youth trade union coalition put the number at nearly half a million including 200,000 in Paris.
Europe-wide youth rallies
Youth-led protests spread beyond France, with PBS reporting that youth-led protests were also held elsewhere in Europe, including in Germany and Portugal. In Germany, a youth initiative called "Gen Z regelt" rallied in more than 30 cities for education, health, climate protection and an affordable life, and against any return of military conscription, according to Hindustan Times. RFI said youth rallies were also held in Germany and Italy, and it described police firing tear gas in Paris after clashes broke out at the end of the march.
“Youth-led protests were also held elsewhere in Europe, including in Germany and Portugal.”
France's government estimated that 320,000 people protested nationwide Saturday, while organizers' turnout estimates were higher and authorities reported more than 560 arrests nationwide by Saturday night. The protests were framed as part of a wider wave that started last month with high school students protesting neglected buildings, teacher shortages and a university admissions system seen as unfair to disadvantaged students, and labor unions and others joined with demands over living costs and education.