More Than 600,000 Protest Across France as Unions Join Cost-of-Living Strikes

The update

France’s interior ministry said more than 600,000 people took part in rallies across the country on Thursday, while the CGT union put turnout at about 1.6 million. Five unions backed a day of strikes and marches in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities demanding higher wages and better-funded public services. About 70,000 police were deployed. Protests were largely peaceful, though police used tear gas in Paris and clashed with demonstrators in Lyon, and the Eiffel Tower closed for the day.

Why it matters

The turnout was the largest in a wave of unrest that began in September with student protests over school conditions and has since spread to workers and pensioners. Strikes disrupted schools, hospitals and transport, halted work at oil refineries and left France expected to import more electricity than it produced amid disruption at nuclear plants. The scale increases pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government months before a presidential election.

What to watch

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he will convene a social conference with unions and employers on Monday to address purchasing power and wages. Unions are seeking an immediate rise in the 12.31-euro-an-hour minimum wage, and yellow-vest groups have called for further blockades on Friday and Saturday.

Sources

• dw.com — confirms the ministry turnout figure, union demands and strike disruption
• bbc.co.uk — confirms the union turnout claim, the day’s scale and Monday’s planned talks

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