The government had feared a repeat of last Saturday, when, despite peaceful protests taking place, France saw one of the most violent days of unrest in years, with public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted and at least 2,700 people arrested in cities across the country. In Paris, at least 110,000 people marched along the eastern edge of the city, according to government estimates.
The government has been facing a crisis since the start of high school demonstrations in mid-September, when children aged between 15 and 18 began protesting against staff shortages at their schools, leaking and crumbling buildings, and a lack of chairs in overcrowded classrooms. At Saturday’s march there were some people dressed in yellow vests who had taken part in the gilets jaunes anti-government protests of 2018 and 2019.
At Saturday’s protests, there was widespread anger at Macron for banning non-union demonstrations that his government deemed “illegitimate” and for keeping all protesters away from city centres.
This is the first time I’ve prepared so carefully for a peaceful march, wearing old clothes in case they are gassed or torn.” Protesters criticised Le Pen, a frontrunner in next year’s presidential election, as well as Macron, who steps down from power next year.
They supported high schoolers but also complained of the high cost of living and the government’s heavy policing, saying riot police had been sent to target school protesters over the past month, instead of the government offering political solutions.
At least two people were seriously injured, one in Clermont-Ferrand and another in Toulouse, who reportedly had fingers blown off.
Riot police also charged a larger crowd of protesters at the end of the Paris march, using batons against them.