Some 320 thousand people participated today in demonstrations called throughout France to contest the high cost of living, the government announced, which highlighted an “exceptional device” with 70,000 security agents.
© Lusa
31/10/2026
by
Lusa
Cerca of 320 thousand people participated today in demonstrations called throughout France to contest the high cost of living, the government announced, which highlighted an “exceptional device” with 70 thousand security agents.
The number of demonstrators was advanced today by the Ministry of Interior, while the police estimated the number of actions planned throughout the country by 350.
The demonstration in the French capital brought together 70,000 people, according to official sources.
The so-called ‘third act’ of protest against rising cost of living and deteriorating public services – after demonstrations on October 17 and 24 – was considered to be “high risk of public order disturbances,” Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted.
According to the agency France-Presse (AFP), the demonstrations took place mostly peacefully, but clashes broke out in several cities of France, such as Toulouse (southwest), Marseille (southeast) and Paris, at the end of the course, when police began to disperse the crowd, using tear gas.
The mass protests of October 17 attracted over 500,000 people throughout France, and the demonstrations of October 24 led 410,000 people to the streets, according to government estimates.
The estimates of the organizers' participation are considerably higher, reports the Associated Press agency.
In previous protests there were episodes of violence, acts of vandalism and numerous looting, especially in Paris and Marseilles.
Today’s day was called by the “yellow vests” movement, secondary school students, university students and trade unions.