Dozens arrested in Paris as tens of thousands expected to protest across France
Por Holly Evans — – World RSS Feed
Dozens arrested in Paris as tens of thousands expected to protest across France
Violent clashes are ongoing between police and protesters over high prices and weak public spending
Holly Evans Saturday 17 October 2026 12:18 BST
- Bookmark
- Comments Go to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
open image in gallery
Become an Independent member to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Around 40 people have been arrested ahead of widespread demonstrations expected across France on Saturday against high prices and inequality.
Police said the arrests were “primarily for carrying weapons or prohibited protective gear” and said that “enhanced checks” are being carried out.
The protests began last month at high schools in Paris‘ poor northern suburbs, where anger over teacher absences and shabby facilities quickly morphed into a nationwide movement against inequality, weak public spending and falling standards.
A large police presence was visible in central Paris, especially near landmarks such as the Avenue des Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe, which were excluded from the routes of the two official demonstrations.
Hundreds of other protests were planned across France, with tens of thousands set to participate.
open image in galleryProtesters in hi-vis vests blocked streets, an echo of the unrest that dogged President Emmanuel Macron’s previous term, while in Marseille, trash cans were set alight.
“We are fighting because the cost of living is too harsh, because the price of fuel is too high, because high school pupils are being violently attacked and hurt all over the country just for trying to protest and ask for more teachers and decent learning conditions,” said a 19-year-old protester in Paris who gave her name as Lola.
The police have drawn criticism for their response due to a grisly list of injuries among demonstrators, including one teenager who had his hand blown off after picking up a stun grenade.
Prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said more than 900 police had also been injured.
The internal police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen cases of alleged police violence.
France suspended the use of stun grenades for the student demonstrations, but Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said they could be used on Saturday.
“If there were to be clashes, all types of intermediate weapons can be used,” he told Telematin TV on Friday.
Macron is entering the final stretch of his presidency, leaving behind a polarised electorate and a badly fragmented political landscape.
A long struggle to reduce rising public debt has not impressed investors, who are ditching French bonds, driving borrowing costs to their highest levels in more than two decades.
Mr Lecornu said on Thursday that authorities fear unrest during the protests. The government accused the hard-left France Unbowed of inflaming the protests, an accusation it denies.
Calls on social media for members of past protest movements to join the fray appear to have worked, suggesting the protests could grow significantly.
The Yellow Vest movement started in 2018 as a protest against taxes on diesel before expanding into an outpouring of anger at high living costs and income inequality.
However, things have been largely quiet since Macron agreed to billions of euros in tax cuts.Yannick Maillou, a teacher from La Crèche in western France, joined the Yellow Vests in 2018 and remains involved in the movement.
He said there were several nearby meeting points for protesters on Saturday, with unions also calling for participation.
More about
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Most popular
Popular videos
Bulletin
Read next
Fonte: – World RSS Feed