French unions call for nationwide strike despite Macron government restrictions
Unions and protest groups in France have called on the public to take part in demonstrations on October 31 and a nationwide strike on November 5, in an effort to increase pressure on the government. The call came after large protests on Saturday.
According to the French Interior Ministry, about 410,000 people took part in marches on Saturday, while around 70,000 police officers were deployed to respond to the protests. During the demonstrations, 1,314 people were arrested and nearly 50 police officers were injured; however, the number of arrests and police injuries was lower than the previous week.
Trade union leaders said the main causes of discontent are rising living costs, declining purchasing power and weak public services, and described the government’s measures as insufficient. The Yellow Vest movement has also encouraged people to continue protests next Saturday.
While Emmanuel Macron’s government in 2019 allocated funds to reduce fuel costs in response to the large Yellow Vest protests, it has now largely lost the ability to respond to protesters’ demands because of financial pressure and the lack of a parliamentary majority. Talks are under way between ministries and representatives of unions and students, but protest leaders say the discussions are insufficient.
At the same time, police unions have warned that it would not be possible to maintain the current level of deployment for long, raising concerns. Similar protests have also been reported in several European countries, including Belgium, Albania and Italy, where police have in some cases clashed with demonstrators.
