French unions and protest groups have called for fresh demonstrations on 31 October and a nationwide strike on 5 November, seeking to build on a movement over wages, living costs and public services after a massive police deployment helped contain unrest during Saturday’s marches.
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Around 410,000 people took part in rallies across France, according to the Interior Ministry. Authorities deployed 70,000 police and other security personnel in an operation that helped avert a repeat of the widespread looting and vandalism seen on 17 October.
The movement, which began with student protests last month, has drawn support from a broader range of groups. Organisers hope that growing frustration will sustain pressure on the government as it holds talks with unions and student representatives.
“We see an aggregation of anger,” Murielle Guilbert, co-leader of the left-wing Solidaires trade union federation, told BFM TV on Sunday.
She said grievances among students, workers, firefighters and other groups were increasingly converging.
“We call on people to take to the streets next Saturday.”
France reports 1,314 arrests after protests as police defend security operation
A widening protest movement
The SUD Education teaching union said it would join the 31 October demonstration, while the CGT, one of France’s largest trade unions, said it would decide during the week whether to participate.
Labour leaders also urged support for a nationwide strike on 5 November, arguing that the discontent now extends well beyond the students who first took to the streets.
The Yellow Vests movement has called for mass rallies next Saturday, including sit-ins outside town halls and the National Assembly.
The grassroots movement emerged in 2018 in opposition to fuel taxes before developing into a wider challenge to President Emmanuel Macron over living standards and economic policy.
“There is anger in this country. It's growing in schools and universities, on roundabouts, in neighbourhoods, on farms and in workplaces,” activist Azelma Sigaux told reporters.
The references to roundabouts recall the traffic junctions that became gathering points for Yellow Vest protesters during their original campaign.
The government has opened discussions with unions and student representatives in an effort to ease tensions. Protest leaders, however, say the measures proposed so far fall short of what is needed.
“We have received no response at all from this government,” Guilbert said.
Macron has limited room to respond. During the earlier Yellow Vest crisis, he was able to offer financial concessions to address anger over household costs.
Today, strained public finances make further spending commitments harder, while his centrist camp lacks the parliamentary majority needed to pass major legislation on its own. His presidency is also approaching its end, adding to the political constraints.
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Pressure on police resources
Saturday’s security operation reduced the scale of disorder, although sporadic clashes broke out in several cities, including Paris and Marseille.
The Interior Ministry said 1,314 people were arrested – around half the number recorded the previous weekend. About 50 police officers were injured, compared with more than 1,000 a week earlier, according to the ministry.
Police unions warned on Sunday that staffing levels would make it difficult to sustain such a large deployment over an extended period.
With another round of demonstrations planned for Saturday and a nationwide strike the following week, the authorities face the challenge of maintaining security while talks continue over the protesters’ demands.
Unrest has also surfaced elsewhere in Europe, although the demonstrations reflect different national grievances.
In Brussels on Saturday, Belgian police used tear gas and pepper spray during clashes with anti-government demonstrators.
In Albania, a protest movement that began peacefully at the end of May turned violent this month. Several Italian cities have also seen skirmishes for a second consecutive week.
(with newswires)