France: Third weekend of protests over rising cost of living
Authorities deployed roughly 70,000 officers as thousands demonstrated nationwide against high living costs.
New mass demonstrations swept across France on Saturday, marking a third consecutive weekend of protests against rising costs of living. Police estimated about 350 separate demonstrations nationwide and said they expected between 350,000 and 450,000 participants; authorities deployed roughly 70,000 police and security personnel to prevent a repeat of the violent incidents of October 17, 2026.
Today's rallies were organised by high-school pupils, university students, members of the Yellow Vests movement and trade unions, and come roughly six months before presidential elections scheduled for April–May 2027. In Paris several thousand people gathered in the early afternoon in eastern residential suburbs, some wearing costumes such as Spider-Man, Super Mario and Frankenstein and carrying placards reading "Warning: climate of high cost of living" and "We do not want to spend our lives earning a living."
Organisers had sought permission to march through central Paris but a court denied the request, prompting criticism from demonstrators and the French student association FAGE, which called the decision a "new restriction on the right to protest." As last weekend, authorities allowed marches only outside city centres.
Scenes on the ground and security measures
Authorities warned that unrest could continue into the evening. Numerous metro stations in Paris were closed, especially near government buildings, and many shops in the city centre boarded up their windows. A police source said they were expecting between 400 and 800 "ultra-left" activists in Paris. Local authorities in some areas imposed curfews from 23:00 to 06:00 on the nights ahead of Sunday and Monday.
Footage and social-media posts from several cities showed clashes and disorder. In Marseille one user reported that "the protester/ Rioters thugs are clashing with the police, already throwing bottles and other objects." Another widely shared post read: "Millions of people protest across France in one of the largest demonstrations in world history." A live feed noted: "THOUSANDS of protesters remain on the streets, with tensions becoming heightened." (All posts dated October 31, 2026.)
The protests follow a wave of demonstrations that began in mid-September over high living costs and fuel price increases. On October 17 between 550,000 and 800,000 people reportedly took part nationwide and clashes, looting and arson were recorded in several cities. Last Saturday's demonstrations were estimated at between 410,000 and 800,000 participants but were marked by significantly less violence.
Authorities say around 1,193 police officers and gendarmes have been injured since the start of the unrest, and overnight disturbances led to roughly 1,800 arrests in some cities. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that "Halloween cannot be an excuse to cover the face to cause trouble," noting that French law allows masks in public during celebrations but not in the vicinity of protests.
Organisers and unions have announced further actions: two groups plan school and university blockades on Tuesday and Thursday, a large strike has been called for Thursday by unions, and Yellow Vests have urged more demonstrations on Friday and Saturday. The wave of discontent has spread beyond France, with protests planned in about thirty German cities called by the youth movement GenZ regelt! and large student and worker mobilisations reported in Italy.
Photo: EPA/FIRAS ABDULLAH
