Protestsupdated 18m ago3 min read
MapPolice And Protesters Clash In Paris During France’s New Round Of Protests
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Interior Ministry reports 146,000 protesters nationwide, 46,000 in Paris, amid clashes. Student unions claim about 250,000 participants nationwide, differing from ministry estimates.
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Paris clashes, turnout split
Clashes erupted between police and some protesters in Paris during a new round of demonstrations across France on Saturday, as the country marked the fourth consecutive weekend of protests against the rising cost of living. The Interior Ministry said 146,000 people took part nationwide, including 46,000 in Paris, while unions put the figure at 250,000 protesters nationwide, with 75,000 in the capital. Authorities thwarted a rival Yellow Vest rally that had been banned by authorities, and police and protesters clashed despite a lower turnout than in previous weeks.
The Interior Ministry also reported that authorities expected up to 170,000 people to protest nationwide, including 60,000 in Paris, while the ministry reported a slightly lower nationwide total of 146,000. DW said the afternoon in Paris remained mostly calm, with some isolated incidents reported in the evening involving the deployment of tear gas.
Banned Yellow Vests, arrests
French student unions said 250,000 people took part in Saturday’s country-wide demonstrations against the rising cost of living and in support of the ongoing youth movement, while the Interior Ministry put the number at closer to 146,000. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police arrested 232 people as of 6pm and carried out almost 40,000 stops-and-searches throughout the day. Police launched tear gas and stun grenades at protesters remaining at Paris's Place de la Nation as the largely peaceful march against rising cost of living wound down, after police said some 200 "violent individuals" attacked law enforcement after a man was arrested for setting fire to a trash can.
The Yellow Vests held a banned event at Paris' Place de la Concorde, and Benjamin Ball and Solene Azelma Sigaux were arrested and taken into custody. The Paris Police Prefecture said, "I can’t make ends meet on my 40-hour workweek," as it described the cordon of riot police around Yellow Vests protesters at Place de la Concorde.
Security plans, political stakes
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police and security forces would be deployed across the country over the weekend, and he added that authorities will "be ready" for "rioters and looters."
The protests were tied to a political calendar that the South China Morning Post described as the country heading to presidential elections in five months’ time, with the far-right seeing its best chance yet to win power.
The New York Times said France faced a fourth consecutive Saturday of protests, with students and workers planning to rally again in Paris and other cities two days after a general strike that brought more than half a million people into the streets.
The New York Times reported that the foreign ministry announced it would move a high-level diplomatic meeting to Paris from Marseille next week, citing "logistical and operational" reasons, with the meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of 7 scheduled for Nov. 9 and 10.
The New York Times quoted Pascal Confavreux saying, "It was a combination of logistical and operational considerations" for relocating the event, while the protests continued under the pressure of public discontent over the rising cost of living.