French Police Fire Tear Gas as Nationwide Protests Hit Cities Over Cost of Living and Schools

French police fired tear gas on Saturday as authorities deployed 70,000 security personnel nationwide to prevent a repeat of rioting from the previous week.

Crackdown And Closures

In the southeastern city of Lyon, officers used tear gas to disperse around 150 protesters near the centre after they tried to block a road. In Paris, streets were unusually quiet with many shop windows boarded up, while major museums like the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay closed for the day. Police moved a union-organised march from Bastille to the remote Porte d'Italie, while the capital's police reported officers confiscated forbidden items but called the overall situation calm.

Political Tensions

Thousands marched against both President Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party held a campaign launch in Orleans ahead of elections in six months. Police estimated the crowd at 11,000 while organisers claimed 26,000 participants. Protesters and unions targeted the high cost of living, school conditions, and government cost-cutting plans, amid widespread anger over falling purchasing power and public service strain.

Context

France has a long history of large-scale street demonstrations by trade unions, students, and citizens groups to pressure the government over economic policies. Tensions often rise sharply ahead of presidential elections when political campaigns intersect with ongoing public grievances over inflation and public spending.