The third consecutive weekend of social mobilization and demonstrations in France brought together some 320,000 participants, including 70,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry.
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This is a figure down compared to previous days of mobilization: the government had 410,000 participants on Saturday October 24, compared to 550,000 on October 17. The organizers, for their part, indicated that they counted 800,000 demonstrators on each of these two days.
The lower participation could in particular be explained by disruptions in public transport. In Lyon, our reporter Jean-Philippe Liabot noted that “trams and metros only run at half capacity”. In Paris, more than 40 metro stations are closed, and tram traffic is also affected.
Earlier today, the Interior Ministry reported a situation “generally calm”, “without notable incident”. At 2 p.m., 27 arrests had been recorded, compared to 217 at the same time during the mobilization of October 24.
Authorities are putting in place measures to limit unrest
But authorities fear that Halloween night will serve as “pretext” for clashes in the streets, while processions begin to disperse in certain large cities.
In Lyon, our reporter observed the use of tear gas at the arrival of the demonstration at Place Jean-Macé, in the 7th arrondissement.
“The security forces will demonstrate the greatest firmness towards those responsible for the violence and damage,” » warned the Interior Ministry.
The rallies began last month as a movement of high school students protesting neglected buildings, teacher shortages and a college admissions system seen as unfair to disadvantaged students. Unions and other organizations angry with President Emmanuel Macron have since joined these demands with various demands.
Most protesters have been peaceful, but troublemakers regularly target police with fireworks and projectiles. Some protests turned into riots and looting, including the October 17 unrest that seemed to take the government by surprise.
Police responded with tear gas, cluster grenades, water cannons and other tactics that caused serious injuries.
Macron said Saturday’s protests would stay outside city centers to protect stores. The police banned entry to Place de la République and Les Halles from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
This Saturday and Sunday, unaccompanied minors are subject to a curfew from 9 p.m. around the Champs-Élysées, although a Paris court on Wednesday suspended an earlier curfew imposed on minors on the grounds of a serious and illegal violation of freedom of movement.
Events organized in Germany, Italy and Spain
Protests against social issues, housing and education have spread to many cities across Europe.
In Germany, a youth initiative called “Gen Z regelt”, roughly “Generation Z got it”, has mobilized in many cities for education, health, climate protection and affordable living, as well as against any return to military conscription.
Organizers said more than 180,000 people registered online, but only a few thousand marched Saturday afternoon.
Young protesters also gathered outside the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Saturday, demanding more investment in education and housing.
In The Hague, Netherlands, Dutch police were out in force around the city center shopping district after calls to protest online and fears of riots and looting.
By mid-afternoon, there were few signs of protests and no major disruptions. Local media reported that police searched some groups of youths dressed in black and checked their identities.
Many stores were closed while in Italy, police were on alert after clashes in Milan, Turin and Bologna.
In Barcelona, Catalan police planned to activate their highest level alert after an anonymous TikTok network called Blockade called for new gatherings. Last Saturday’s riots resulted in around 130 arrests, most of them minors.
Calls for protests also circulated on TikTok in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal.
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