About 70,000 police officers were deployed across France on Saturday as unions and youth groups staged a fourth weekend of protests ahead of wage talks.

Published 8 Nov 2026, 06:41 GMT

2 min read

Protesters fill a square in Paris during France's nationwide strike — Protesters in Paris during the nationwide strike on Thursday, November 5, 2026

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Trade unions, youth organisations and Yellow Vest demonstrators staged nationwide marches across France on Saturday, November 7, taking mass protests over living costs and education into a fourth weekend.

Sources at the French Ministry of the Interior said turnout dropped sharply compared with previous weekends, with about 7,000 protesters counted nationwide by 13:00 GMT before the main marches set off and the situation described as "generally calm and under control".

Authorities deployed roughly 70,000 police officers alongside armoured vehicles and water cannon across the country, carrying out more than 15,600 preventive checks and arresting 18 people by early afternoon.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said fresh social media posts were urging people to attack police, public buildings and shops, and promised a firm response to rioters and looters.

At Place de la République in Paris, where the authorised march began with music and dancing, UNEF student union general secretary Manon Moret said young demonstrators remained "determined and angry" because the government had not answered their demands.

The demonstrations began with student rallies demanding better school conditions before widening over recent weeks to draw hundreds of thousands angry about rising prices, low pay and thin social benefits.

Saturday's rallies followed blockades and a nationwide strike on Thursday, November 5, which drew more than 500,000 people according to the Interior Ministry, while the CGT trade union confederation put turnout at nearly 1.6 million.

In response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will meet unions and employers on Monday, November 9, to talk about wages and purchasing power, signalling plans to raise the minimum wage and increase school staffing and funding ahead of further protests planned for Tuesday.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

France protests enter fourth weekend over wages, prices and schools

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