File photo: People take part in a nationwide day of strikes and protests over wages, the cost of living and public services in France
The protests come less than six months before France elects a new president to replace centrist leader Emmanuel Macron, who cannot seek another term. The far right is leading in opinion polls, while the unrest has put pressure on Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ahead of a meeting with trade unions and employers’ organisations on Monday.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez said 70,000 police officers and security personnel would be deployed across France. The interior ministry put Thursday’s nationwide protest turnout at 575,000, while the CGT trade union, one of the organisers, estimated that 1.6 million people had participated, according to Reuters. The ministry also said 53 police officers were injured and 448 people arrested during the demonstrations. The one-day strike on Thursday also involved some energy workers and teachers, while just over 15 per cent of teaching staff joined the strike, according to the education ministry.
The interior ministry said the protests had “generally gone well” despite 642 arrests, while clashes were reported in several cities. The Yellow Vests activists, however, have refused to join the march and instead called for a separate rally at Place de la Concorde, near the lower house of parliament and the presidential palace, despite the authorities’ ban. On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of workers took part in nationwide strikes and demonstrations.