Why protests in France are escalating again | DW News

Cost-of-Living Protests

French unions said more than 250,000 people joined strikes and demonstrations over the rising cost of living, with protests in dozens of cities. In Paris, as many as 80,000 people took to the streets.

Police used tear gas in some locations. Authorities deployed tens of thousands of additional officers and promised a firm response to violence.

Who Took Part—and What They Demanded

The demonstrations brought together students, public-sector workers and trade union members, with pensioners also part of the wider coalition.

• Students said government pledges of additional funding and teachers did not meet their demands for better education and prospects.
• Workers called for higher minimum wages, saying rising prices were making it difficult to get by.

Political Impact

The protests reflected broader frustration with President Emmanuel Macron’s government. The correspondent cited a recent poll in which only 16% of respondents viewed Macron as a good president. Many protesters, she said, felt the government was distant and unwilling to listen.

With presidential elections due the following April or May, Macron was under substantial pressure, and the report said his legacy was a central concern.

The far-left France Unbowed had supported protesters from early on. However, the correspondent said polling suggested the far right, led by Marine Le Pen, might benefit more from the unrest by emphasizing the need to restore order after earlier destruction and looting. She cautioned that the picture could change.

Police Response and Injuries

The use of police force was another major point of contention. Protesters and parents were angered by reports of young people suffering severe injuries, including losing a hand or their eyesight.

Authorities also placed some people with past protest involvement under house arrest. The government defended these measures as necessary to restore order, while critics called the response disproportionate.

Presenters and Contributors

• Studio presenter (unnamed)
• Lisa Lewis, DW correspondent in Paris