320,000 Protesters Take to Streets Across France in Third Weekend of Unrest

France has entered its third consecutive weekend of mass demonstrations, with young people demanding changes to the education system and relief from high living costs. The French government estimated that 320,000 people marched nationwide on Saturday, a decrease from the 410,000 who protested on Oct. 24 and the more than 500,000 who gathered on Oct. 17.

To manage the crowds, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez deployed approximately 70,000 police and gendarmes across the country. In Paris, authorities rerouted the main march to the city’s outer boulevards to protect government buildings and tourist sites from potential unrest. The ministry estimated that 70,000 of the national total participated in the Paris demonstration. Nuñez warned of a "very high risk" of disorder, particularly after dark on Halloween, following riots and looting that disrupted the previous two weekends of protests.

Protesters carried banners representing diverse groups, including high school students, climate activists, and citizens concerned about the cost of living. Corentin Cabreux, a 21-year-old student, described the conditions in his state-run residence, noting damp stains, peeling walls, and infestations of cockroaches and rats. The atmosphere in Paris remained largely joyful for hours, with techno music and trick-or-treating, until clashes erupted near Porte de Charenton. There, protesters threw glass bottles and fireworks at police, who responded with stun grenades and tear gas, forcing many peaceful marchers to retreat into the nearby Bois de Vincennes.

The movement has expanded beyond France. In Germany, a youth initiative called "Gen Z regelt" organized rallies in more than 30 cities, with organizers claiming tens of thousands participated. In Berlin, high school student Lara Breitenbach demanded more investment in social services and climate protection, stating that young people would live with the consequences the longest. Student Janelle Schulz pointed to crumbling ceilings and broken toilets at her school as evidence of neglect. Police ended a march early in Cologne after protesters threw stones and used pyrotechnics, while in Frankfurt, several officers were injured, one severely.

In Portugal, thousands gathered in downtown Lisbon to protest the housing crisis, holding signs that read "Houses or Fire." In the Netherlands, a heavy police presence in The Hague prevented major disturbances, with stores boarding up windows as a precaution. French authorities also enforced specific curfews in Paris, barring entry to Place de la Republique and Les Halles between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., and imposing a 9 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors near the Champs-Elysees after a court suspended an earlier, broader restriction.

Authorities reported approximately 300 arrests in France on Saturday, a significant drop from the 800 arrests recorded at the same point last week. President Emmanuel Macron said the marches were kept out of city centers to protect local shops. The protests originated last month as high school students complained about neglected buildings and teacher shortages before labor unions and other groups joined the cause.