Mass protests swept across France on Saturday
Protests took place in France on October 17 against the rising cost of living and problems in the education system. The actions took place in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Rennes, and other cities. They were accompanied by clashes with police, attempts to block roads, and arrests of participants, writes Euronews.
Protests in Paris. Photo: AP Photo / Thibault Camus
According to police data, at least 61 people were detained in Paris. Of these, 21 people were detained after a protest near the headquarters of the CNews TV channel, which is part of Vincent Bolloré's media group, known for its right-conservative views. About a hundred demonstrators threw various objects at the building's windows.
Another 40 people were detained for wearing protective gear or possessing items that the police considered prohibited weapons. In some areas of the French capital, demonstrations were banned.
In Marseille, a group of protesters temporarily stormed the city hall building, breaking down the entrance doors with metal barriers. Police expelled them from the building. Law enforcement also stopped a crowd's attempt to block a street, and some demonstrators attempted to attack a police station.
In Rennes and Lyon, participants in the protests also tried to block traffic.
Around 1500 different demonstrations were announced across the country. Police expected about 40,000 people to participate in Paris and its surroundings, and approximately 150,000 more in other regions.
The protests are caused not only by the rising cost of living, but also by plans to cut education spending. Since mid-September, French schoolchildren have been demanding an increase in the number of teachers, a reduction in class sizes, and an improvement in learning conditions.
On the eve, French President Emmanuel Macron called on participants in the actions to exercise restraint. He emphasized that the right to protest should not be accompanied by violence and disorder.