'Black Thursday' in France: Over 600,000 Protesters Rally Against the Rising Cost of Living

France witnessed a day of massive protests and widespread disruption on what was described as "Black Thursday," an event long feared by security authorities, as hundreds of thousands answered the call of a joint trade union coalition to take to the streets in protest against deteriorating living conditions and the government's economic decisions.

Record Numbers and Escalating Anger

In initial estimates, the French Ministry of the Interior announced that more than 600,000 demonstrators took part in marches across the country. This figure represents the highest turnout recorded since the start of the high school student movement, surpassing numbers from earlier demonstrations, including "Act I" on October 17, which drew 550,000 protesters and saw riots and unrest, as well as the peak of student protests on October 6, which reached 256,000 participants ahead of the All Saints' Day (Toussaint) holiday.

Purchasing Power at the Heart of Demands

This mobilization, dubbed "Act IV" (Acte IV), comes as part of union efforts to achieve what is known as the "convergence of struggles" against high prices and the draft budget bill. The strikes were not limited to state employees; they extended to workers in both the public and private sectors. Protesters rallied around a core slogan directly impacting the daily lives of the general population—particularly workers and residents—demanding higher wages and improved purchasing power amid persistent inflation.

Anticipation for a Social Conference at Matignon

Amid this mounting public and union pressure, Sébastien Lecornu announced that a meeting will be held next Monday at the Prime Minister's headquarters in Matignon, featuring a "social conference" attended by representatives of trade unions and employers' organizations, in an effort to initiate dialogue and ease escalating social tensions.