17.10.2026 17:00
Mass demonstrations expected against the cost of living and government policies in France have spread to many cities. In many cities, especially Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, teams seeking to intervene in the incidents are also sometimes left helpless.
Student protests, sparked in reaction to the chronic teacher shortage and neglected schools in high schools in poor suburbs in France, turned into a nationwide mass anti-government movement targeting the cost of living and public spending. Today, the most violent clashes in recent years took place in city centers between thousands of people who poured into the streets and security forces; police intervened in the crowds with tear gas.
TEAMS WERE SOMETIMES LEFT HELPLESS
Police teams seeking to intervene in incidents that spread rapidly across the country, especially in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, were sometimes left helpless in the face of the harsh reaction of protesters. Official authorities reported that by midday, at least 140 demonstrations had been recorded, with the participation of 32,800 people only in cities outside Paris.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND THE PRESS WERE TARGETED
In a statement after the incidents, the Ministry of the Interior held groups it described as the "far left" responsible for the escalation of violence in the streets. Ministry sources announced to the public that serious cases of vandalism had occurred in many cities, especially Marseille, in which public buildings, members of the press, and security forces were directly targeted.