On November 14, France experienced its fifth consecutive Saturday of street protests sparked by the rising cost of living. Demonstrations took place in dozens of cities with the participation of trade unions, students, schoolchildren, human rights activists, and "yellow vest" movement members. In a number of locations, peaceful marches escalated into clashes with law enforcement and were accompanied by the detention of participants. According to the Ministry of the Interior, about 106,000 people took part in the actions nationwide, including 24,000 in Paris; the youth inter-union coalition estimates the scale to be significantly higher, at around 200,000 nationwide and 100,000 in the capital.
Scale and Routes of the Marches
To ensure public order, authorities deployed about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, and temporarily closed 21 metro stations in Paris. The main column of demonstrators in the capital started from Republic Square, then the route ran through Bastille Square to Nation Square. It was in the Nation Square area, according to French media reports, that law enforcement officers formed groups and pushed back protesters, using batons and detaining demonstrators.
Clashes and Detentions
In Paris, law enforcement used tear gas, and a total of 121 protest participants were detained across the country. In Lyon, protesters set fire to a barricade, in Bordeaux objects were thrown at armored vehicles, and in Marseille police once again used tear gas. Despite these incidents, the French Interior Ministry stated that overall the situation in the country remains calm and controlled.
Demands of the Protesters
Among the main demands of the demonstrators are wage increases, higher spending on education, and an end to police violence. Some participants also opposed a bill designed to strengthen the legal protection of law enforcement officers when using weapons and introducing a presumption of lawfulness for such actions.
Context and Assessments
The current wave continues a series of protests that have been taking place in France for the fifth Saturday in a row. Earlier, the publication reported that France intends to check Russia's possible involvement in the street protests, and analytical columns discussed the differences between the current actions and previous ones. Disagreements between the parties regarding the number of participants — from 106,000 according to the Interior Ministry to 200,000 according to the trade union coalition — reflect the difference in counting methodology typical for such events, while the very fact of mass marches and isolated clashes is recognized by both sides.
