France’s third straight Saturday of protests over living costs, education and public services drew rival crowd estimates on Oct. 31, alongside reports of incidents in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse and Marseille.
France’s Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 320,000, including 70,000 in Paris, Le Monde reported. Youth unions estimated nearly 500,000 across the country, including 200,000 in the capital. The two totals were separate estimates. The ministry had counted 410,000 on Oct. 24 and 550,000 on Oct. 17. At 9 a.m. ET (13:00 UTC), its interim tally stood at 15,000 across 65 actions; Le Monde reported 37,000 and 67,000, respectively, at the same point on Oct. 24 and Oct. 17.
Authorities mobilized 70,000 police and gendarmes nationwide on Oct. 31, matching the deployment on Oct. 24, France’s Interior Ministry said. The ministry cited concerns about disorder and the use of Halloween masks to conceal identities as it outlined security measures. In Paris, the permitted march ran along the city’s eastern side from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton after the Conseil d’État overturned a lower court decision allowing a Bastille-to-Nation route.
Reports described different incidents by location. The Associated Press reported officers used stun grenades and tear gas near Porte de Charenton after demonstrators threw bottles and fireworks. Reuters reported tear gas in Lyon and Toulouse and tensions after an unauthorized gathering in Marseille.
Student concerns about school conditions, teacher shortages and university admissions were among the movement’s early issues; demonstrators later included broader complaints about living costs and public services. Protester Jerome Rodriguez told Reuters that “families are struggling with a few cents.”
Student unions called for school and university blockades on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Thursday, Nov. 5, Le Monde reported. The debate over turnout and incidents near the march route followed last weekend’s protests, which also drew disputed attendance estimates and clashes in Paris.
