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Tens of thousands of workers in France flood streets for anti-government protests
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Tens of thousands of union workers, including government employees, teachers, and transport staff, participated in a national day of protests across France against low wages and the high cost of living.
- The General Confederation of Labour (GCL) estimated 1.6 million protesters took part, while the Interior Ministry reported about 600,000, with demonstrations even briefly closing the Eiffel Tower.
- Protest leaders criticized President Emmanuel Macron for prioritizing the wealthy and multinational interests over working people, urging continued protests despite government calls for dialogue.
- Some protests turned violent, with police using tear gas and clashes occurring in cities like Lyon and Paris, where cars and objects were set on fire.
- The protests began in late September with student demonstrations over education issues and have since expanded, gaining support from nearly 60% of the French population according to surveys.
