French riot police used tear gas and charged protesters in Lyon on Thursday as nationwide demonstrations and public-sector strikes highlighted anger over living costs, public services and education. The mobilisation follows weeks of unrest that have increased pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Trade unions and student organisations called for demonstrations in approximately 260 towns and cities. Their demands included higher wages, stronger pension protections and additional education funding, bringing workers and students together around concerns about household finances and deteriorating services.
Authorities prepared a large security operation, with around 70,000 police officers expected to be deployed nationwide, according to reporting cited by Reuters. Before the marches, intelligence officials estimated that between 500,000 and 700,000 people could demonstrate outside Paris; those figures were forecasts rather than confirmed attendance totals.
Education remained a central issue. Students have protested overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings, while unions warned that proposed budget cuts would put further pressure on public services and household incomes. Workers across several sectors were called to join the strike.
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower’s operator warned that the national strike could disrupt opening hours and access on Thursday, advising visitors to check its website and ticket holders to monitor their email. Its published notice did not confirm a full-day closure.
The demonstrations follow October unrest that damaged shops and public buildings. Government officials have pledged heightened vigilance as they seek to prevent further violence while facing sustained demands for improvements to living standards and public services.
