HighLights
  1. Over 4,00,000 people protested across France on Saturday.
  2. Police used tear gas, water cannons after clashes erupted in major cities.
  3. People protested against Macron government's policies, rising living costs and austerity.

France Protests: France witnessed large anti-government demonstrations as more than 4,00,000 people took to the streets across the country on Saturday. While many marches remained peaceful, clashes broke out in several cities, prompting police to use tear gas and water cannons. Authorities deployed around 70,000 security personnel to manage the protests and prevent incidents of violence and looting.

Clashes Erupt In Paris and Other Cities

According to Reuters, Paris saw more than 1,00,000 demonstrators, and the march remained largely peaceful. However, tensions rose towards the end when a smaller group clashed with police, who then used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Flares were lit, and stun grenades were also heard in the area.

Similar clashes were reported in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Montpellier and Nantes. In Nantes, thousands of protesters pushed past police lines to enter the city centre. In Lyon, police used tear gas against a crowd of around 1,000 people. According to BFMTV, members of a far-right group reportedly attacked peaceful demonstrators in Nice.

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Govt Defends Security Measures

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said nearly 1,000 people had been detained, compared with 385 during the previous week's protests. He described the situation as more "positive" than a week earlier. He added that the police had acted faster, carried out more checks and improved protection for businesses. As part of security measures, partial curfews were also introduced in some areas.

Why Are The Protests Continuing?

The demonstrations have grown beyond student protests over school conditions and budget cuts. People are protesting against President Emmanuel Macron's administration over rising living costs, high fuel prices and government austerity measures. It has continued as students, trade unions, yellow vest protesters and other citizens have joined the movement. Moreover, anger over restrictions on demonstrations and police action has also encouraged people to participate.

Political Tensions Add To Protest

Meanwhile, political tensions have also added to the protest as it comes amid ahead of France's next presidential election and the parties are rallying against each other. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally held a rally in Orleans, drawing thousands of counter-protesters chanting anti-fascist slogans. Similarly, far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon called the Paris march a "total victory for the social movement" and threatened a general strike next month if Macron failed to address protesters' demands.

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