Tensions flared in France on Saturday as 4,10,000 people took to the streets nationwide to protest inadequate school funding and rising living costs, mounting pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. The large-scale demonstration ended in confrontations between protesters and police,
The march came just seven days after several French cities experienced widespread unrest involving riots and looting. Approximately 1,10,000 demonstrators gathered in Paris alone, reported AP, according to the interior ministry.
Nearly 1,000 arrests were made during the demonstrations, interior minister Laurent Nuñez announced, citing serious confrontations between police and groups of black-clad individuals he described as “ultra-left” extremists, reported AFP. He said law enforcement officers had encountered an exceptionally high level of violence during the protests.
Police use tear gas, water cannon to disperse protesters
Authorities have also introduced limited curfews in selected urban districts of Paris and several other cities to contain the unrest. In response to the demonstrations, the government has instructed police to keep protesters away from city centres, particularly areas with large concentrations of shops and businesses. Union banners and protest signs targeting President Macron’s administration and the police were prominent throughout the demonstrations.
Student organisations and labour unions have said that they would continue mobilising people until the government scraps its proposed budget measures and allocates additional funding to essential public services.
