Over 600,000 Protest Across France for Wages and Schools

Paris, France. More than 600,000 people gathered across France on Thursday to demand higher wages and increased funding for schools. The Interior Ministry released the figures as provisional, noting that the demonstrations were part of a month of recurring protests. Major rallies took place in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, with most groups reporting peaceful conditions.

The movement began in September with a protest over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. It spread nationwide as students joined to demand more education funding. The base then broadened to include workers seeking better pensions and relief from rising costs for fuel, food, and rent. Unions have warned that the country is near recession and that layoff plans are increasing.

Thursday's march in Paris started at Place de la Republic in the afternoon. The crowd included students carrying signs that read, "Inequalities seriously jeopardize our future." Workers and retirees joined them to voice concerns about wages and pensions. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that by early afternoon, about 270,000 people had joined the 180 union-organized rallies outside the capital.

The strikes affected daily operations across the country. About one-third of high schools were closed or unable to operate due to student blockades or teacher strikes. Public transportation faced disruptions in several areas, and the Eiffel Tower was closed to the public. Authorities deployed 70,000 police officers, supported by armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters, to manage the crowds.

Violence occurred in some locations despite the generally peaceful nature of the marches. In Rennes, authorities reported that masked individuals tried to block roads. They said young people, often with adults, committed serious acts of violence, including throwing steel balls at police. Tensions and scuffles were also reported in Lyon, Nantes, Pau, Orléans, and Toulouse.

Protesters expressed frustration with the current economic conditions. Garance Blaise, a 21-year-old university student, said the movement is about job security and the future. "It is all about the way we don’t know whether we’ll get a job or not," she said. Corinne Cucchini, from the Private Healthcare Federal Union, joined the demonstration to address staff shortages and equipment lacks at her hospital. Fabien Villedieu, national secretary of the SUD-Rail union, criticized President Emmanuel Macron's government and the national rail company, SNCF, for not being reasonable.

The demonstrations occur as the campaign for the presidential election next May begins to heat up. Macron is barred from seeking a third term, and far-right contender Marine Le Pen is currently the favorite to win. Several candidates participated in the Paris march, including Jean-Luc Melanchon, Marine Tondelier, and Raphaël Glucksmann. The government had been negotiating with unions in hopes of limiting the protest movement, which has resulted in significant civil unrest in recent years.

Paul Smith, an associate professor of French history and politics at the University of Nottingham, described the situation as one of absolute frustration with the government's failure to operate. He noted that whoever wins the election will face a stack of problems to manage. The Interior Ministry continued to update its counts as the day progressed, with the final numbers still under review.