Nationwide strikes and demonstrations disrupted schools, public transportation and public services across France on Thursday as unions and student groups pressed demands for higher wages, more education funding and relief from rising living costs.
An official close to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 270,000 people had joined 180 rallies outside Paris by early Thursday, Reuters reported. The CGT labor union said actions were planned in 260 towns and cities, while the government deployed 70,000 police officers backed by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters.
The Eiffel Tower closed because of the strike. Hundreds of high schools were closed or operating only partially, and the Education Ministry expected 17.5% of public primary-school teachers to walk out. Reuters reported that the strike also reduced French nuclear-power output by 2.4 gigawatts early Thursday.
The day of action joined a student-led movement over school conditions with union demands involving wages, pensions, public services and the government's proposed budget. In a joint statement reported by the Associated Press, unions said household costs were rising while wages and pensions lagged and warned that layoffs were increasing.
Most demonstrations were organized as labor and student protests, but authorities reported scattered confrontations. Police used tear gas in Lyon, and officials said a high school near Toulouse was set on fire. Investigations into individual incidents were continuing, and the reports did not establish that union organizers were responsible for violence.
The mobilization followed weeks of unrest, including serious rioting on October 17. President Emmanuel Macron convened a defense and security meeting Wednesday before Thursday's action. His government has held talks with union and student representatives, but organizers say its proposals have not met their demands.
The protests also carry political weight because France is five months from a presidential election. Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, and candidates across the political spectrum are positioning themselves around the cost-of-living, public-services and public-order debate.
Thursday's participation figures were preliminary. Final nationwide totals from police and organizers can differ substantially and were not yet available.
Sources: Reuters — France hit by more protests and strike: https://www.aol.com/articles/france-braces-fresh-protests-macron-050247000.html Associated Press — French unions unite for nationwide strikes: https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/world/article/french-unions-unite-for-nationwide-strikes-22513506.php CGT — November 5 mobilizations: https://www.cgt.fr/actualites/france/mobilisation/5-novembre-retrouvez-les-mobilisations-pres-de-chez-vous Fox News — Protests erupt across France: https://www.foxnews.com/world/protests-erupt-across-france-left-wing-groups-call-mobilization