French authorities expressed relief Sunday after mass protests over rising living costs resulted in less violence than previous weekends. Law enforcement remains on alert as high schools prepare to reopen Monday following their autumn break, with some groups calling for school blockades. A general strike on trains and public services involving both students and labor unions is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5.
The protests are part of a movement centered on rising living costs and deteriorating conditions in public institutions. In the weeks leading up to the break, students and teachers held demonstrations to highlight teacher shortages and dilapidated buildings. These actions were met with significant police presence and, in some instances, severe unrest; on Oct. 17, a city hall was set on fire and more than 2,000 stores were looted.
During Saturday's marches, approximately 70,000 police officers were deployed across France. Authorities arrested 779 people nationwide, a decline from 2,628 arrests on Oct. 17 and 1,314 on Oct. 24. In Paris, three officers were injured by Molotov cocktails, and masked groups launched fireworks at police near the Eiffel Tower. Protesters interviewed by The Associated Press cited difficulties including low wages, fuel costs, and rodent infestations in classrooms. An official close to President Emmanuel Macron characterized the weekend as a "return to republican order" while acknowledging the situation remained imperfect.
The ongoing demonstrations involve students and teachers across France who are facing disruptions to the academic year. Those in lower-income neighborhoods have highlighted infrastructure issues, including collapsed ceilings and a lack of climate control during heatwaves and winter. The scale of the movement is substantial, with a reported 40 million euro cut to the building renovation budget cited by a member of the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) union.
The impact on residents includes potential disruptions to daily services and transportation. A general strike scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, is expected to affect trains and public services as labor unions and students demand higher wages. Families with students may encounter blockades at school entrances as early as Monday, Nov. 2. For business owners in urban centers like Paris and Marseille, the unrest maintains a risk of property damage, though police reported no major damage to shops this past weekend.
The protests come amid similar actions reported in Germany and Portugal. On Saturday, Oct. 31, more than 100,000 people protested in Germany, where unrest in Frankfurt led to over 100 officers being injured and 17 stores damaged. In Portugal, riot police used force to clear protesters from a Lisbon square early Sunday, Nov. 1. In France, the next major development is the nationwide strike and protest on Thursday, Nov. 5, as the government continues negotiations with unions.