Mass protests sweep France as 70,000 police officers are deployed

In Paris, 16 metro stations were temporarily closed, while Bordeaux introduced restrictions on minors moving around at night.

Trade unions, student associations, and representatives of the Yellow Vest movement joined the protests.

Trade unions claim that around 250,000 people took to the streets, while the Interior Ministry says the number of demonstrators was 146,000.

Ahead of the protests, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced a major increase in security measures. A total of 110 mobile units, 25 specialized armored vehicles, water cannons, helicopters, and drones were deployed to maintain public order.

In the capital, trade unions organized an official demonstration. Participants marched from Place de la République to Place de la Nation along Boulevard Voltaire. The march began after 2:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Yellow Vest movement decided not to join the trade union march and instead hold their own demonstrations.

In particular, supporters of the movement in Paris were called to gather at Place de la Concorde, near the National Assembly. Despite a police ban, around 100 people were there at approximately 2:00 p.m. Some staged a sit-in protest while law enforcement officers checked the identities of those present.

According to French media, the movement's organizers also announced a series of demonstrations in other regions of the country.

What protesters are demanding

The main goal of the protests is to reduce the financial burden on the population, increase purchasing power, and raise wages.

Student and youth organizations, which are also taking part in the demonstrations, are calling for better learning conditions and increased funding for education.

Earlier, large-scale protests in Germany and their consequences were reported.

In addition, protests in France escalated into clashes on Halloween.