France faced nationwide protests over rising living costs on Saturday, with police detaining dozens as public discontent grows ahead of next year’s presidential election. The demonstrations come months before voters choose President Emmanuel Macron’s successor in two rounds scheduled for April and May 2027.
The protests follow weeks of student blockades demanding better conditions in schools. Some demonstrations have escalated into clashes, prompting rights groups to accuse police of using excessive force against young protesters. The Yellow Vest movement, which led major protests against fuel tax increases eight years ago, called for Saturday’s rallies alongside young people.
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More than 600 demonstrations were planned across France, according to organisers. In the western city of Rennes, around 20 people built a barricade using rubbish bins and wooden pallets near a shopping mall. In Marseille, some protesters attacked a police building, while others clashed with officers who responded with tear gas and cleared a temporarily blocked main road.
In Paris, police detained around 60 people on Saturday morning as authorities imposed restrictions around government buildings, the Champs-Elysees and train stations. Some masked protesters threw objects and smashed windows at the headquarters of right-wing broadcaster CNews. Organisers said the demonstrations aimed to unite students, workers, pensioners, teachers and farmers against rising costs and police brutality.
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A survey of 2,000 people published earlier this month found that around 45% of French people worry about the cost of living and inflation. Macron called for calm and respect on Friday, stressing that the right to protest must also involve respect for people and property. Meanwhile, political parties on both the far left and far right have taken positions on the unrest, with Jean-Luc Melenchon backing student demonstrations and Marine Le Pen supporting the police.