In brief
During Saturday’s nationwide protests, French authorities reported approximately 320,000 participants, while youth unions claimed about half a million. The demonstrations disrupted Paris public transport and led to clashes near Porte de Charenton, where police used tear gas and batons. Around 70,000 law‑enforcement officers were mobilised across France to maintain order amid escalating tensions.
Tear gas, a chemical irritant that causes coughing, tearing, and temporary blindness, was widely deployed by French law‑enforcement during Saturday’s national protests, according to Al Jazeera coverage of the event.
Scale of Participation
Le Monde reported that about 320,000 people took part in the latest wave of marches — a figure it said was based on the Interior Ministry’s official count. The ministry confirmed a total of 70,000 demonstrators in Paris by 5 p.m. local time.
In contrast, youth organisations and student associations said that roughly 500,000 participants joined the demonstrations nationwide, including an estimated 200,000 in Paris, according to a statement released by the coalition of unions.
Incidents and Police Response
In Paris, the march proceeded peacefully until the final stretch near Porte de Charenton, where demonstrators threw projectiles and set bins and street furniture on fire. A single incendiary device was fired at security forces, an incident reported by the AFP news agency.
The police, whose response involved tear gas and baton charges, evacuated injured protesters and kept the line of march moving. Medi‑technical units carried wounded participants to nearby hospitals.
"What we’ve been seeing… is the police firing a lot of tear gas into this crowd," said Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, who was reporting from the scene. Her team described the situation as "simply too much for us to breathe".
Clashes were not confined to Paris; in Lyon, authorities confronted a large gathering, deploying tear gas that led to arrests and medical evacuations.
The Interior Ministry allocated 70,000 officers and gendarmes across the country to maintain public order, marking one of the largest deployments since the October 17 demonstrations.
The protests also caused significant disruption to public transport; RATP announced that more than forty metro stations were closed throughout the city, forcing commuters to seek alternative routes.
These demonstrations represent the third successive weekend of large‑scale protests in France, underscoring widespread dissatisfaction with the cost of living and educational reforms. Authorities remain on high alert, deploying extensive security resources while monitoring the evolving situation.
