France saw its fifth consecutive Saturday of nationwide anti-government protests, as tens of thousands took to the streets and police used tear gas and charged crowds in several cities.
The Interior Ministry said about 106,000 people demonstrated across the country, including 24,000 in Paris, with 137 protest events held nationwide. Organisers put the figures far higher, at around 200,000 demonstrators in total, including nearly 100,000 in the capital. By 6pm, 121 people had been arrested following disturbances in numerous cities and towns, the ministry said. Later reports put the number detained at 219.
Clashes were reported in Marseille, Grenoble and Lyon as well as Paris, where demonstrators gathered at the Place de la Republique. The movement, now known as Act V, began in September with small protests by school pupils over conditions in state schools and has grown into a broader challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s government over the cost of living, strained public services and policing.
A Reuters investigation published on Saturday found that more than 4,900 suspects have been taken into custody since 17 October, when violence erupted on a scale that overwhelmed police in Paris, Marseille and Lyon. Of those, 2,290 have been referred for prosecution and 404 handed prison sentences so far. The Interior Ministry said its internal watchdogs have opened 161 investigations into allegations of officer violence against protesters since September, and United Nations human rights experts have raised concerns about the arrest of nearly 7,000 minors during sometimes violent school blockades.
The government has sought to calm the unrest by bringing forward a planned minimum-wage increase and offering proposals to improve education, but student leaders and major trade unions say the moves do not go far enough. Unions have called another day of strike action for Tuesday after rejecting the government’s offer of a 0.6 per cent rise in the minimum wage.
Saturday’s marchers also opposed a proposed police bill that would presume officers acted in legitimate self-defence when using their weapons. Supporters, including Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, say the change would stop officers being automatically suspected of excessive force. Critics have dubbed it a “licence to kill” law and warn it would weaken accountability.
The unrest comes at a difficult time for Mr Macron, who will not stand for re-election when France votes for a new president next spring. His centrist party no longer holds the majority needed to pass major legislation, and strained public finances leave him little room to meet protesters’ demands. He has promised both to “listen to the anger” and to “impose respect of the Republican order”.
Sources: Reuters, “Riots in France: How anti-government protests spiraled out of control” (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/riots-france-how-anti-government-protests-spiralled-out-control-2026-11-14/) and The Sun, “French riots erupt for FIFTH weekend as cities set on fire by masked protesters clashing with cops & over 120 arrested” (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/41025364/french-riots-masked-protesters-clash-fire/).
