France Holds Third Week of Youth Protests

Protesters filled the streets of France on Saturday for the third consecutive weekend, marking the latest chapter in a youth-led movement against high living costs and education policies. The demonstrations continued across the country, with participants gathering in Paris and other major cities to voice grievances that have expanded since the movement began last month.

Government estimates placed the nationwide turnout at 320,000 people on Saturday. This figure is lower than the 500,000 participants recorded on Oct. 17, which saw some of the worst rioting in years, and also below the 410,000 demonstrators counted on Oct. 24. While the numbers have dipped slightly, the Interior Ministry described the turnout as still substantial for a third weekend in a row.

Security forces deployed approximately 70,000 police and gendarmes across France to manage the events. In Paris, authorities rerouted the main marches to the edge of the city to protect government buildings and tourist sites. A last-minute court battle resulted in police moving the primary demonstration outside the city center, where an estimated 70,000 people gathered according to the Interior Ministry.

Arrests have decreased compared to previous weeks. French authorities reported about 300 arrests nationwide by the time of reporting, down from 800 at the same point during the previous Saturday’s protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a very high risk of disorder, particularly after dark on Halloween, following the riots and looting that affected the largely peaceful marches of the prior two weekends.

At Porte de Bagnolet on the eastern edge of Paris, thousands of protesters gathered behind a line of students leading the march. Security agents from the CGT, one of France's largest labor unions, watched over the front of the group while police massed on side streets. The crowd moved along the Boulevards des Maréchaux, a ring of avenues that skirts the edge of Paris. For several hours, the march remained peaceful, with techno music playing from speakers and some participants engaging in trick-or-treating as the sun set.

Disorder emerged later near Porte de Charenton, where the march concluded. Protesters threw glass bottles and fireworks at police, who responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Smoke filled the air as dusk fell, causing many peaceful marchers to cough and leave the scene, with some scattering into the nearby Bois de Vincennes park.

Similar youth-led demonstrations occurred in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands. In Germany, the initiative Gen Z regelt rallied in more than 30 cities, with organizers claiming tens of thousands participated. In Berlin, high school student Lara Breitenbach called for more investment in social services and climate protection, stating that her generation would live with the consequences the longest. In Lisbon, thousands protested Portugal's housing crisis, holding placards reading Houses or Fire, while in The Hague, police maintained a strong presence in the shopping area but reported few disturbances by midafternoon.

The movement initially started as a protest by high school students over neglected buildings and teacher shortages. It has since grown to include labor unions and other groups opposing President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. While most protesters have been peaceful, sporadic clashes have led police to use tear gas, water cannons, and dispersion grenades, resulting in several severe injuries.