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Laurent Nuñez Deploys 70,000 Police as French Unions Stage Nationwide Strikes on November 5
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70,000 police and gendarmes deployed for November 5 general strike. Five major unions organize nationwide strikes demanding higher wages and job protection.
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Strike day, huge turnout
French unions prepared a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations on Thursday, November 5, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez saying 70,000 police and gendarmes would be deployed and vowing "an extremely firm response" to any potential outbreaks of violence. Authorities expected 500,000 to 700,000 demonstrators to join marches across France, with tens of thousands more in Paris alone. The protests were set to include public and private sector workers demanding higher wages to combat the cost of living and protected public services, while students continued complaining about poor conditions and resources in education.
The education ministry said 81 lycées were shut on Thursday morning, and it added that about 17.5% of primary schools were affected by the strikes. The day was billed by one union leader as "a great day of convergence," as Sophie Binet called for the strike to take over.
Routes, risks, and policing
Laurent Nuñez warned of three potential risks for Thursday, including radical left "black blocs" groups, "cortèges sauvages" or wildcat marches, and "looting and damage to shops and public buildings." Maud Bregeon told a press conference that the executive was "extremely vigilant" because it did not want to repeat what happened on October 17, when the police were overwhelmed and caused material losses at around 3,000 shops. Authorities planned more than 250 separate actions for 5 November, and the BBC said some disruption was expected in schools, hospitals and public transport.
The march would be allowed through the centre of Paris but would follow a route from Place de la République to Place de la Nation rather than the unions' proposed route between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Concorde. The CFDT complained that getting court approval for the route only on Wednesday evening made organising the march more difficult, and the BBC said the last big mobilisation passed off with relatively little violence.
Pressure on Macron, next moves
Sophie Binet said the mobilisation needed to rise further, telling protesters, "The time has come to take the mobilisation to the next level; the strike must take over." The protests were expected to extend to hospital workers, air traffic control, the post office, teachers and rail staff, as unions sought to press demands over living costs, public spending cuts and the education system. Sophie Binet criticised the government, saying, "We’re living at a very serious time with a very dangerous authoritarian drift from the government".
“The time has come to take the mobilisation to the next level; the strike must take over.”
Marylise Léon argued, "The principle of a demonstration is its visibility," as rights groups protested heavy policing and an "authoritarian" attempt to clamp down on the right to demonstrate. The revived gilets jaunes movement called for further blockades and protests on Friday and Saturday too, extending the pressure beyond Thursday’s marches.