France’s Interior Ministry revised its turnout estimate for the Nov. 5 demonstrations to 575,000, the movement’s largest tally so far, while officials reported a teacher strike and scheduled talks with unions.
The Education Ministry said nearly 16% of teachers were on strike.
Anadolu Agency reported that the protests involved wages, household purchasing power and public services. The agency said the student movement began over education conditions, funding and staffing.
For comparison, France’s Interior Ministry counted 320,000 people at the Oct. 31 marches, while youth unions estimated nearly 500,000. The figures were separate estimates, not a single agreed count. EconoTimes covered the difference in its earlier account of the competing turnout estimates.
The Nov. 6 revision replaced an initial provisional estimate of nearly 600,000 issued the previous day. A government statement said Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu scheduled a social conference with unions and employers at Matignon for Monday, Nov. 9.
