World

France Sees New Wave of Protests, Some Turn Violent Amid Rising Living Costs

By Bhanu Pratap

France has experienced a fresh wave of protests involving students, teachers, trade unions and activists linked to the Yellow Vest movement. Demonstrations across several cities were sparked by concerns over rising living costs, pressure on public services and broader economic grievances. While hundreds of thousands reportedly joined marches nationwide, violent groups targeted public buildings, damaged property and looted shops, including luxury boutiques and supermarkets, according to AFP and The Associated Press.

The protests began with students protesting staff shortages and deteriorating school conditions, then broadened to include anger over rising living costs, inequality and declining public services. Calls to revive the Yellow Vest movement were also made. The 2018 movement, which started over fuel prices, expanded into wider opposition to economic inequality and government policies.

In several cities, violence was reported. In Limoges, a fire engulfed the 19th‑century city hall; the prefect of Haute‑Vienne said the blaze had been deliberately set. In Marseille, protesters reportedly broke into the city hall and defaced parts of the building with graffiti. In Lyon, the city’s tourist office was reportedly set on fire. Masked groups also attacked public buildings, set fires and clashed with police in other locations. Paris and several other cities witnessed looting as masked youths targeted commercial establishments amid demonstrations against inflation and the rising cost of living.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government would not be intimidated by violence, accusing far‑left groups and criminals of seeking to exploit the unrest ahead of next year’s presidential election. President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prosecute those responsible for the attacks, saying the country would stand together against groups seeking to undermine public institutions and disrupt peaceful demonstrations.

French police reportedly arrested at least 1,800 people nationwide following clashes and incidents of looting. US President Donald Trump weighed in on the unrest on Sunday, blaming immigration for the violence in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The demonstrations have drawn attention beyond France, with smaller protests also reported in Belgium, Portugal and Italy amid concerns over the cost of living across Europe. In Albania, protesters again rallied over alleged government corruption, unemployment and education standards.

The Yellow Vest movement, known in French as Mouvement des gilets jaunes, emerged in France in 2018. It takes its name from the high‑visibility yellow vests that motorists in the country are required to keep in their vehicles. The movement began on 17 November 2018 in response to rising fuel prices and living costs under President Macron, and soon expanded into a broader protest against economic inequality, perceived government indifference to working‑class concerns and the cost of everyday life. Weekly protests continued until June 2020, when activity subsided during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

According to Al Jazeera, former Yellow Vest figures and activists joined high school students, teachers and trade unionists in demonstrations on 17 October across major cities, including Paris, Marseille, Rennes and Saint‑Étienne. The key question remains whether these demonstrations will develop into a sustained nationwide movement comparable to the Yellow Vest protests, or remain a broader but fragmented expression of public discontent.