In brief
On Saturday, more than 1,300 individuals were detained as massive protests erupted across France’s major cities, fueled by frustration over high living expenses. Police deployed tear gas, water cannons and an elite counter‑terrorism unit in places such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon, sparking violent skirmishes in which a handful were seriously injured. While the unrest was less intense than the previous weekend’s chaos, officials warned that the number of arrests could rise as security forces maintain heightened vigilance. The upheaval comes ahead of a looming presidential election, deepening divisions between the left‑leaning unions and right‑wing politicians who blame the government for the turmoil.
More than 1,300 people were detained on Saturday as protestors took to the streets across France’s major cities, sparking a series of confrontations with police that in some places turned violent.
The Interior Ministry said around 70,000 officers were deployed nationwide and laid down barriers, after the mass movement – driven by frustration over the cost of living, poor school conditions and demanding higher wages – could have turned into the type of chaos that last week saw drones, looting and arson across cities such as Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux.
Police used tear gas and water cannons in Paris, while barricades built from rubbish and metal sheets were set ablaze in Marseille’s port district and a law‑enforcement vehicle was seen cracking a burning barricade on the Rhône River. A police charge in Lyon and a water cannon in Bordeaux also added to the day‑long unrest.
Officials reported 53 officers wounded and two people seriously injured – a 20‑year‑old torch‑burned and torn‑off fingers in Toulouse, and another in Clermont‑Ferrand after a grenade explosion. Because of the high risk of escalation, the Interior Minister warned that the number of arrests could increase as the situation unfolded.
President Emmanuel Macron has recently imposed a ban on un‑organised demonstrations, allowing only those backed by recognised trade unions to take the ramparts. As the protests continue, the country remains divided, with the left‑leaning La France Insoumise and the right‑wing National Rally accusing Macron’s administration of stoking public anger.
A flashback last weekend saw more than 2,500 arrests after violent riots left nearly two thousand businesses damaged, costing the French economy hundreds of millions of euros. This time, police officers are pulling a tighter grip, but the unrest has also spread internationally, with clashes reported in Spain, Italy, Albania and Belgium.
