Teargas hung over central Paris as police clashed with rioters who turned a student-led march into a street battle. A car burned on Place de la République while masked protesters threw firecrackers and paving stones at officers.
The violence marked a sharp escalation in a movement that started over absent teachers and crumbling schools. Now, it has swallowed broader anger over soaring prices and a crumbling welfare state, drawing hundreds of thousands onto the streets.
Chaos in Marseille
The unrest wasn’t limited to the capital. In Marseille, protesters rammed the town hall door with stolen security barriers. They briefly breached the municipal building, spray-painting an “A” for anarchy on the wall before police kicked them out. Across the country, authorities detained dozens of people, with more arrests expected as the day wore on.
Political Fallout
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez blamed the chaos on “ultra-left” agitators, claiming 140 protests involved 32,800 people outside Paris by midday. But the mood on the ground was more complex. “We are fighting because the cost of living is too harsh,” said Lola, a 19-year-old protester in Paris. “High school pupils are being violently attacked just for trying to ask for more teachers.” The CGT union backed the cause, demanding higher wages and protected public services.
Macron’s Warning
President Emmanuel Macron, entering the final stretch of his term, appealed for calm on Friday. He acknowledged the constitutional right to protest but warned that it comes with a duty to respect people and property. “This right comes with the need for respect,” he stated, denouncing those present “solely to cause damage.” Police had already closed Métro stations near the Champs-Élysées and the presidential palace, bracing for further trouble.
Source: Guardian World
This article was compiled by the IndiaBBCNews editorial system from verified international news sources. Facts have been independently reviewed. Original reporting: Guardian World.
