Violent cost-of-living protests sweep France, over 1,000 arrested

· Politics · France

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday in protests over the rising cost of living, teacher shortages and deteriorating public services, and the demonstrations spiralled into some of the country's worst violence in years. Organisers claimed 800,000 participants, while police reported more than 1,000 arrests. Cars and buildings were set on fire, shop windows were smashed and several town halls were broken into, including in Marseille; looters raided shops from bakeries to tech stores, and an Al Jazeera reporter was harassed in Rennes. Police fired tear gas in Paris and other cities. The movement began last month in high schools in Paris's poor northern suburbs and has since broadened, drawing in unions and Yellow Vest activists. It comes ahead of elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron.

Why it matters：Sustained unrest on this scale tests the French state's capacity to manage social anger over living standards just as its electoral calendar begins.

Key points

  • Looters raided businesses and an Al Jazeera reporter was harassed in Rennes.
  • Protests started at Paris-area high schools over facilities and staff shortages, then widened to living costs.
  • Police confirmed 4x4 vehicles funded by Britain were used against student protesters, prompting an inquiry.

Sources (original reporting)

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