France Detains 448 After 575,000 Join Biggest Protests in Years Over Wages
Updated
Updated · CNN · Nov 6
France Detains 448 After 575,000 Join Biggest Protests in Years Over Wages
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Nov 6
Summary
448 people were detained after about 575,000 demonstrators joined nearly 200 protests across France, with 65,000 in Paris, in the country’s biggest protest day since the unrest began in September.
Tear gas was fired in Paris and Lyon, scuffles broke out in Nantes and Rennes, and firefighters tackled 86 blazes, but authorities said the marches were largely peaceful overall.
Schools, transport and other public services were disrupted by the union-led general strike: about 19% of schools were affected and 4 in 10 scheduled trains were canceled.
The protests have widened from student strikes into a broader movement over inflation, low pay and strained public services, with unions demanding wage rises of 7% to 10% and higher pensions.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will hold a social conference with unions and employers on Monday as the unrest adds pressure ahead of France’s April presidential election.