Hundreds of thousands march in France; nearly 1,000 arrested as Paris clashes flare

· Politics · France

Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday to protest living costs, inequality and poor school conditions, in rallies called by a coalition of the Yellow Vests, trade unions and student groups. The Interior Ministry said 410,000 took part nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, slightly below last week's 550,000; unions claimed twice the official figure. About 70,000 security forces were deployed. Paris was largely calm by day but police fired tear gas and water cannon after nightfall, and clashes were reported in other cities. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested nationwide. Central Paris resembled a locked-down city, with shops and museums closed, including the Louvre.

Why it matters：Sustained unrest is testing France's capacity to keep order and weighing on its budget and borrowing costs, a signal of how cost-of-living anger is destabilizing European politics.

Key points

  • Interior Ministry: 410,000 nationwide, 110,000 in Paris; unions claim double.
  • About 70,000 security forces deployed across the country.
  • Nearly 1,000 arrested; museums including the Louvre closed.

Sources (original reporting)

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