Protests Erupt in France Over Rising Living Costs
PARIS (AP) – In Paris, a newspaper kiosk and a car were set ablaze amid clashes between police and protest groups. Authorities deployed tear gas and water cannons to control escalating violence as nationwide demonstrations against the surging cost of living took place. These protests also voiced support for student grievances, with similar unrest reported in other major cities.
According to the office of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, there has been an uptick in violent incidents, which includes attacks on police, instances of looting, and damage to public properties. At least 272 people have been arrested across the country, with some of those detentions occurring in Paris.
In the French capital, officers confronted groups of masked individuals throwing fireworks and other items at them in the Place de la République area. A significant riot police presence was stationed nearby to maintain order.
Meanwhile, many demonstrators participated in a peaceful march moving toward northwestern Paris, where they sang the national anthem and waved French flags, accompanied by music from trumpets and violins.
As part of the response, multiple metro stations were closed on Saturday at the request of police, particularly those near key areas such as the Champs-Elysées and various government buildings.
In Lyon, about 20,000 participants joined the protests, and a fire broke out at a tourism office, creating smoke and flames visible from afar. In the city of Marseille, some municipal buildings and shops were damaged, and there was an attempt by protesters to enter City Hall. Mayor Benoît Payan commented on the situation, calling the damage “unacceptable” but noted it was limited.
Nuñez’s office indicated that violence was being reported from other cities, including Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier, and Grenoble.
The protests seemed to be a revival of the “yellow vest” movement, ignited in 2018 over social inequalities, with many demonstrators voicing their exasperation with rising fuel, energy, and food prices in recent months. Student groups, who have been conducting protests since mid-September, called upon supporters to join them in the demonstrations.
One of France’s prominent labor unions, the CGT, has also lent its support to the protests, advocating for increased wages and pensions, along with lower prices and the safeguarding of essential public services.
The situation in France has become increasingly tense, with many arrests, injuries, and incidents of violence including school burnings that coincide with the current student protests—shaping the landscape ahead of upcoming presidential elections.
A particularly serious incident left some teenagers seriously injured, leading to the suspension of a certain type of police stun grenade after a 15-year-old lost a hand due to its use. On a separate note, climate activist Greta Thunberg was seen joining high school students in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, as part of her ongoing advocacy for climate and social justice issues.
