PARIS: Thousands of striking workers protested across France on Thursday against the rising cost of living in a new escalation following weeks of demonstrations, with police firing tear gas as violence and vandalism broke out in some cities.

Around 600,000 people — a mix of students, teachers, Yellow Vests activists, farmers and other workers — had taken to the streets to protest the cost of living in Paris and across France by 5pm, the interior ministry said.

The demonstrations come as the eurozone’s second largest economy battles to redress its finances, six months ahead of elections to replace centrist President Emmanuel Macron, with the far right leading in opinion polls.

The high school student movement that began with youths protesting over learning conditions has coincided with widespread anger over the rising cost of living and inequality, which culminated on Oct 17 in the worst rioting France has seen in years.

“The question today is not whether we’re going to win” but rather “how much we’re going to win”, CGT union leader Sophie Binet said at the Paris rally. The unions are calling for across-the-board wage raises, tax reforms and better learning conditions for young people and have complained about police restrictions on certain protests.

While the marches were largely peaceful, skirmishes between protesters and police broke out in some cities, including Lyon where at least one vehicle was torched and tear gas was fired. Winegrower Martin Thiberge said he wanted to take part in demonstrations that were drawing together people from across French society. “We want to make a living from our work, to make a dignified wage,” he said at the Lyon protest.

In Marseille, 31-year-old social worker Lea said that she was “fed up with counting every cent”. “This social movement has given us hope,” she added. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, popular among tourists, were closed for the day.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2026