Protests Against the High Cost of Living in France: Turnout Drops to 146,000, According to Interior Ministry

On Saturday, November 7, France witnessed its fourth consecutive weekend of social mobilization organized under the banner of defending youth and protesting the rising cost of living, amid a noticeable decline in mobilization compared to previous actions that directly impacted daily life across the country.

Discrepancy in Turnout Figures Between Authorities and Unions

In a final tally communicated to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the French Ministry of the Interior announced that the total number of participants in the demonstrations reached 146,000 across France, including 46,000 demonstrators in the capital, Paris. In contrast, the Youth Inter-Union Coalition (L'intersyndicale de la jeunesse) offered significantly higher estimates, reporting that 250,000 protesters took to the streets nationwide, including 75,000 in Paris.

Fading Momentum Compared to Previous Days

This mobilization comes amid a clear decline in momentum, whether compared to the national day of action held on Thursday for wages and purchasing power—which drew 575,000 people according to the authorities and 1.6 million according to the unions—or compared to the previous three Saturdays of social protests seen across French streets.

Tensions and Security Arrests

Protests spanned several French cities and regions, including Amiens, Rouen, and Montpellier, with continued focus on deteriorating purchasing power straining residents and families. On the security front, authorities in Paris detained spokespersons from the 'Yellow Vests' movement ahead of an unauthorized gathering at the Place de la Concorde, while high school protests saw scattered tensions and organizational strain, which school administration unions and police forces had previously warned against.