France has been rocked by escalating cost-of-living protests and violent unrest since September
French police have used batons and tear gas against demonstrators in Lyon as violent clashes erupted during nationwide strikes on Thursday. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the French city, according to organizers.
The clashes came as weeks of nationwide protests and unrest over living costs, education and government spending escalated into hundreds of protest actions across the country.
Workers, students and pensioners joined Thursday’s nationwide strikes organized by a coalition of major French trade unions, which had called for the protests in early October. Demonstrators demanded higher wages and pensions, better-funded public services and changes to the government’s proposed 2027 austerity budget.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show tear gas grenades exploding among demonstrators on a Lyon street.
Other footage appears to show protesters throwing stones at riot police, while separate clips show officers charging at demonstrators and striking them with batons at Place Jean-Mace in the south of the city.
The police also deployed a water cannon against protesters on Gallieni Bridge in central Lyon, according to French magazine and online portal Lyonmag.
The French Interior Ministry announced the deployment of 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country ahead of more than 220 planned protest actions. Authorities said demonstrations would be restricted to approved routes.
In Lyon, unions had challenged a ban on marching through much of the city center, arguing that the restrictions infringed on the right to protest. The administrative court rejected their appeal on Wednesday, upholding the restrictions over concerns about violence during earlier protests, according to Lyon Capitale.
Last month, President Emmanuel Macron said that any protests deemed “illegitimate” would be banned while demonstrations arranged by recognized unions and groups would need to secure prior approval.
The heightened security measures followed a wave of nationwide demonstrations, including violent clashes and looting on October 17. In the following weeks, authorities deployed tens of thousands of officers, backed by armored vehicles, water cannons, drones and helicopters, to police protests.
