France sees fresh Yellow Vest protests over poor school conditions, rising living costs

More than 100,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday in a fresh wave of Yellow Vest protests, with students and youth groups also demonstrating against poor school conditions, declining educational standards, rising living costs, low wages and police violence.

The demonstrations, involving student unions, workers and other protest groups, reflected growing public frustration with the government's handling of economic pressures and deteriorating public services, particularly education. The French Interior Ministry estimated that 106,000 people participated in demonstrations nationwide, including 24,000 in Paris. The turnout was lower than last week's protests, which drew 146,000 people across the country, including 46,000 in the capital. Student unions, however, put Saturday's turnout considerably higher, estimating that around 200,000 people joined the demonstrations, with nearly 100,000 gathering in Paris.

Arrests also declined compared with previous mass protests. The Interior Ministry reported 219 detentions nationwide, while prosecutors in Paris recorded 45 arrests in the capital. France has witnessed more than a month of high-school blockades, mass demonstrations and strikes, with students and workers increasingly voicing anger over poor school conditions, declining educational standards, rising living costs, low wages and alleged police violence.

Several demonstrators also carried placards criticising President Emmanuel Macron and his government, highlighting the growing political dimension of a movement initially driven by economic grievances. Although most demonstrations have been peaceful, some have turned violent on the fringes. The first major protest on October 17 was marked by looting in several cities, prompting authorities to strengthen police deployment and tighten controls on transport and protest permits.

In Marseille, France's second-largest city, authorities imposed a weekend protest ban. Despite the restrictions, the prefecture reported that around 3,500 people took to the streets. Local media reported that police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators. Images also showed fires burning in a popular city square. In Lyon, around 8,000 people reportedly joined the demonstrations. Local media footage showed masked protesters chanting in the streets, fires burning and police charging crowds with tear gas.

Similar use of tear gas was reported in Nantes, Bordeaux and Paris, underscoring the tensions surrounding the latest round of demonstrations.

Unions announce fresh strikes

The unrest is expected to continue, with trade unions calling for another nationwide day of strikes on Tuesday after rejecting the government's offer of a 0.6% increase in the minimum wage, describing the proposed rise as mere "crumbs".

The planned action will coincide with the eighth anniversary of the Gilets Jaunes, or Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 and became one of the biggest challenges to Macron's presidency. Initially triggered by anger over rising fuel prices, the movement rapidly expanded into a broader revolt against economic inequality, declining purchasing power and government policies. Its protests, which continued for nearly two years, drew widespread participation across France.

Yellow Vest activists are preparing to mark the anniversary at the locations where the movement first gained momentum. The protest-tracking website 17octobregiletjaune.net said the movement would "celebrate their eight years where it all started: on roundabouts and toll booths all over France".

The latest demonstrations suggest that economic pressures and dissatisfaction with public services continue to provide fertile ground for protest, with unions and youth groups seeking to sustain pressure on the government.