Hundreds of thousands of predominantly young protesters demonstrated across France on Saturday in the third consecutive weekend of mass marches focused on living costs and education. The French government estimated 320,000 people participated nationally, a decrease from prior weekends when over 500,000 and 410,000 people protested respectively. Authorities deployed approximately 70,000 police and gendarmes throughout the country, with Paris marches relocated to the city’s perimeter to minimize potential disruptions around government buildings and commercial areas.
The demonstrations encompassed diverse grievances, with separate groups representing high school students, climate activists, and individuals concerned about cost-of-living pressures. Initial concerns centered on neglected school infrastructure, teacher shortages, and university admissions systems perceived as disadvantageous to underprivileged students. The marches generally remained peaceful for extended periods, with one Paris demonstration featuring music and festive elements. However, confrontations emerged later in the evening near protest endpoints, where groups engaged police with glass bottles and fireworks while officers responded with stun grenades and tear gas, causing casualties and dispersing crowds.
Arrests nationwide totaled approximately 300 by the reporting period, down from 800 arrests at a corresponding stage during the previous weekend’s protests. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cautioned of elevated disorder risks, particularly after dark. The government implemented various crowd management measures, including curfews on unaccompanied minors in certain areas and time-based access restrictions to downtown locations.
Similar demonstrations spread across other European nations. German youth-led protests took place in over 30 cities under the “Gen Z regelt” initiative, focused on education, healthcare, climate action, and living affordability. Participants in Berlin and other German cities reported infrastructure deficiencies including structural damage, teacher shortages, and inadequate social services. Police in multiple German cities employed water cannons and dispersal tactics after instances of property damage and pyrotechnics use. Portuguese protesters gathered peacefully in Lisbon to demonstrate against housing affordability challenges.
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