Mass protests over cost of living spark nationwide clashes in France

On October 24, 2026, France experienced a new wave of nationwide protests focused on the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, and the state of public services. Demonstrations involved between 410,000 participants according to the Interior Ministry and 800,000 according to the CGT union, with Paris accounting for between 110,000 and 250,000 of these individuals. These events follow significant unrest and looting that occurred the previous week.

To manage potential violence, the government mobilized 70,000 police officers across the country. In Paris, authorities enforced a route change for the main protest, shifting it from the city center to a route from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes, which was upheld by an administrative court despite union opposition. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported at least 1,000 arrests throughout the day, noting that officers were instructed to be highly reactive. While protests began peacefully, violence broke out in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble, Lille, and Nice, leading security forces to use tear gas, stun grenades, and water cannons against participants.