France: Protester Turnout Declines on Fourth Saturday of Cost-of-Living Protests Ahead of Government Conference

Protest actions continued on the streets of France for the fourth consecutive Saturday, with around one hundred demonstrations staged across various cities to denounce the rising cost of living and support young people, coming just two days after massive strikes and protests swept the country on Thursday, November 5.

Noticeable Decline in Protester Numbers

Sources close to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported a "clear decline" in participation by 2:00 PM, with roughly 7,000 demonstrators taking part in 68 actions across France, compared to 15,000 protesters who participated in 65 actions on the previous Saturday, October 31. Official sources confirmed that conditions remained generally calm and under control, noting that these figures did not include the main march in Paris, which set off later in the day.

Livelihood Demands and Political Pressure

This broad-based movement, which includes trade unions and student organizations alongside the "Yellow Vests" movement, seeks to maintain pressure on the executive branch less than six months ahead of the presidential election. Key demands include raising the minimum wage (SMIC) and all salaries, introducing urgent measures to curb economic precariousness, as well as supporting public services and boosting budgets allocated to schools and universities to improve study conditions.

Meanwhile, demonstrators decried the absence of effective political solutions under a government that lacks a parliamentary majority and faces massive deficits and debt. They also criticized authorities for restricting marching routes in city centers and resorting frequently to arrests, even though the demonstrations were largely peaceful, with the exception of earlier violent incidents on October 17.

Security Alert and Legal Proceedings

To maintain order, the Ministry of the Interior renewed the intensive security plan deployed on October 24 and 31, mobilizing approximately 70,000 police and gendarmerie officers across France, while conducting searches and identity checks at train stations and road networks, affecting daily commutes.

On the judicial front, investigations continue into abuses on both sides. Lawyers representing at least 18 people injured during the protests announced their intention to pursue legal action against the Interior Minister over allegations of excessive force. Conversely, the public prosecutor's office in the southwestern city of Pau opened a judicial investigation into four minors placed in police custody on suspicion of injuring four police officers with pyrotechnic projectiles on Thursday.

Anticipation Ahead of the "Social Conference"

While Paris police designated the authorized march route between Place de la République and Place de la Nation, Yellow Vest activists called for defiance and planned to assemble near Place de la Concorde, adjacent to the National Assembly, despite official bans.

All eyes now turn to Monday, when Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to meet representatives of trade unions and employer organizations at a "social conference" to address wages and purchasing power. In a statement, the inter-union coordination stressed that responding to labor and social demands is the only way to defuse tensions and end protests in the streets.