05.11.2026 23:03
In France, education, transport, and media workers went on a general strike at the call of unions to protest the high cost of living and demand wage increases. Unions announced that 1.6 million people participated, while the Ministry of the Interior said 600,000. In Paris, police intervened against demonstrators with pepper spray and batons, while in Lyon 40 people were injured, 34 of them law enforcement officers.
In France, police intervened with tear gas against demonstrators at protests organized by trade unions against the cost of living and demanding wage increases.
At the call of the country's workers' unions, employees from many sectors including education, transport, and media went on a general strike against the cost of living.
Within the scope of the strike, employees organized demonstrations in more than 200 locations, including the capital Paris and the cities of Marseille and Lille.
As part of the demonstrations, which Yellow Vests and students also joined, demands were made to increase wages and end budget cuts in public services.
UNION SAID 1.6 MILLION, MINISTRY 600,000
The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the country's largest union, stated that 1.6 million people participated in the demonstrations. The French Ministry of the Interior announced that as of 17:00 local time, the number of people participating in the demonstrations was approximately 600,000.
TEAR GAS AND BATONS IN PARIS
The demonstration in Paris began around 14:00 local time with an orchestra giving a concert at the historic Place de la République.
Demonstrators carrying the French flag and banners reading "Capitalism kills" and "I am proud of us" marched toward Place de la Nation.
In the demonstration in the capital, police intervened against some demonstrators with tear gas and batons.
Police also intervened against demonstrators at demonstrations in the cities of Lille and Rennes.
In Lille, police laid some demonstrators face down on the ground and then detained them.
In a statement made on the social media account of the Prefecture of Brittany and Ille-et-Vilaine, it was stated that some people in the city of Rennes had set up barricades on various roads since the morning hours to block traffic.
In the statement, it was noted that law enforcement systematically intervened to remove these barricades, while it was stated that union members participating in the demonstration were subjected to violent attack by masked individuals.
In the statement, which reported that this unacceptable violence was condemned, it was conveyed that dozens of people suspected of damaging a hotel in the same city were detained.
34 POLICE OFFICERS INJURED IN LYON
According to a statement from the Rhône Prefecture, a total of 40 people, including 34 law enforcement officers, were injured in the demonstration in the city of Lyon.
Within the scope of the demonstration in the city, 5 shops were damaged and 24 people were detained.
More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were assigned across the country as part of the demonstrations.
According to reports in the national press, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will meet with union representatives in Paris on November 9 to offer solutions to problems regarding wages and purchasing power.