More than 100,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday for the fifth consecutive weekend of protests, voicing concerns over the rising cost of living, education funding, children’s rights and a proposed law granting greater protection to police officers using firearms.The demonstrations brought together the Yellow Vest movement, students, education unions and other activists. The French interior ministry put the nationwide turnout at around 106,000, including 24,000 in Paris.Organisers, however, estimated that 200,000 people participated, with nearly 100,000 in the capital, according to Euronews.The protests were largely peaceful, although clashes and the use of tear gas were reported in several cities.In Paris, demonstrators gathered at Place de la Republique, a regular meeting point for nationwide protests. Students demanded better funding for education, adequate facilities in schools and improved access to higher education.“We’re asking to have teachers when we go to class. We’re asking to not have ceilings collapsing on us when we eat in the canteen. We’re asking, when we get our A-levels, despite conditions getting worse every year, to be able to carry on our studies at university,” Marius Mesnil, co-secretary-general of the Union Syndicale Lycéenne, said.The protests have been accompanied by school blockades, strikes and demonstrations for more than a month. Participants have raised concerns over falling educational standards, low wages, rising living costs and alleged police violence. Some also carried placards targeting President Emmanuel Macron.
Turnout lower than previous protests
Saturday’s demonstrations drew fewer people than the previous weekend, when authorities estimated that 146,000 people had participated nationwide, including 46,000 in Paris.The largest mobilisation in recent weeks took place during a union-led strike on Thursday last week, when more than half a million people took to the streets across France, according to official figures.Protests in Marseille continued despite a weekend ban imposed by the local authorities. The prefecture estimated that around 3,500 people took part in the demonstrations there. Local media reported the use of tear gas and a water cannon, as well as fires in a public square.In Lyon, around 8,000 people reportedly participated, with local media showing masked demonstrators chanting near street fires as police used tear gas. Tear gas was also reported in Nantes, Bordeaux and Paris.The demonstrations have faced increased police deployment and tighter controls on transport and protest permits following incidents of violence and looting during some earlier rallies.
Protesters oppose proposed police firearms law
A major focus of Saturday’s demonstrations was opposition to a proposed police bill that would give police officers and gendarmes greater protection when using firearms in the line of duty.Supporters, including Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party, argue that the legislation is needed to prevent officers from being automatically presumed guilty of using excessive force.Unions and civil rights activists, however, say the proposed measure would make it harder to hold law enforcement officials accountable. They have described it as a “licence to kill”.“What the so-called ‘licence to kill’ law, which is being put to the vote next week, provides for is literally that a police officer who fires will first be presumed to have acted lawfully,” Sabrine Kharbach, spokesperson for the Student Union, said.“Yet another layer of impunity for those who club us, gas us and maim us. Yet another layer of impunity for this police force that acts as the armed wing of the state,” she added.The bill has been approved by the lower house and is due to go before the Senate, AFP reported.The issue has also drawn criticism from lawyers representing people injured during recent demonstrations. Last week, lawyers representing at least 18 protesters said they would sue the interior ministry over its alleged responsibility for police brutality.They accused officers of using excessive force that resulted in serious injuries, including to protesters’ hands, feet and eyes.
Unions call fresh strike for Tuesday
Unions have announced another day of strike action for Tuesday after rejecting the government’s promise to increase the minimum wage by 0.6%, describing the proposed rise as inadequate.“The government has only given us crumbs, and we want the whole bakery,” Benjamin Ball, a member of the Yellow Vest movement, said.The next round of protests would coincide with the eighth anniversary of the Yellow Vest movement, which began in 2018 with demonstrations against rising fuel prices and went on to trigger two years of protests during the early part of Macron’s presidency.Activists have also been demanding stronger safeguards for children and teenagers, including better protection against sexual abuse. Claire Bourdille, from a collective campaigning against violence against children, said the different demands reflected wider social concerns.“Society’s in bad shape,” she said. “We can’t focus on one cause more than another.”The protests come ahead of France’s presidential election next year, with the far right viewing the contest as an opportunity to gain power.
