General strike paralyzes France as clashes erupt in Lyon, helicopters fly over Paris

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets of French cities during a general strike called by unions to protest the rising cost of living and declining public services. The Interior Ministry estimated the number of protesters at around 600,000, while the CGT union put the figure at 1.6 million. Clashes broke out in Lyon, where police used water cannons and tear gas.

France witnessed a general strike on Thursday called by major labor unions. Workers, retirees, teachers, university students and high school students joined demonstrations in cities across the country, demanding higher wages and pensions, stronger public services and increased funding for education.

The figures differed sharply. The French Interior Ministry said around 600,000 people had taken part in demonstrations across the country, including Paris, by 5 p.m. local time. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the largest union organizing the protests, said the number of participants had reached around 1.6 million, including 350,000 in the capital.

The footage shows a car engulfed in flames after being set on fire during protests in Lyon. The Interior Ministry said security forces in Lyon confronted a group of several hundred hard-line protesters, some of whom wore black clothing and concealed their faces. The ministry added that the violence had been contained, but tensions remained.

70,000 police officers and gendarmes

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said at a news conference on Wednesday that more than 220 demonstrations were expected to take place across the country. He said around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed, supported by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters. President Emmanuel Macron also chaired a defense and security meeting a day before the strike.

Crowds of protesters on a street in France during the general strike

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that police had the situation under control, but that it remained tense. It wrote on X: "Demonstrating is a right, but endangering others and damaging property cannot be tolerated." The ministry recorded acts of violence near high schools in Rennes, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Paris. They included fireworks being set off, fires being started and projectiles being thrown at police.

The footage shows police in Lyon using water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters. In Paris, the main march set off in the afternoon from Place de la République toward Place de la Nation along a route approved by a court. The march began in a festive atmosphere, but groups at the front clashed with police after about two hours, prompting officers to respond with tear gas. The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors because of the strike.

High school students at the forefront

The strike coincided with protests by high school and university students that have continued for weeks. In Paris, the entrances to Panthéon-Assas University and several high schools were closed, including Victor Hugo, Sophie Germain and Claude Monet. Police used tear gas outside Honoré de Balzac High School and batons on Rue de Rivoli. Similar closures were reported in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes, Lille and Strasbourg.

This short clip shows protesters in Lyon throwing paint at police officers. In the town of Tournefeuille near Toulouse, a high school caught fire after fireworks were thrown at it, prompting the evacuation of students and staff. Education Minister Édouard Geffray described what happened on X as "criminal behavior and an absolute disgrace." High school student unions said more than 1,000 schools had been closed or blockaded, while the Education Ministry put the number at 81 schools.

Protesters carrying torches during demonstrations in France

"Nothing will stop us"

CGT Secretary-General Sophie Binet told reporters: "The government tried to prevent the demonstrations, but the demonstrations are bigger than ever." She added that the only thing that would end the mobilization was meeting the unions' demands, warning the government that "the longer you wait, the higher the price will be." A joint statement by the unions said: "Everything is going up except wages and pensions, and the anger is immense."

The footage shows French police officers advancing toward protesters with shields and throwing several of them to the ground during arrests. The government defends police tactics but has said that any misconduct will be investigated. Around 8,000 people have been arrested since education protests began on September 17. Numerous Palestinian flags were seen at demonstrations in recent weeks.

Government measures and electoral calculations

Before the strike, Minister Geffray announced that the government had reversed plans to eliminate 836 positions in public secondary education and would create 500 new teaching positions in high schools. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also allocated around $4.4 billion to local authorities to fund school renovations. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on X: "The social crisis must find political answers, and we will provide them." Centrist-left candidate Raphaël Glucksmann said during his participation in the Paris march: "This country needs justice."

Protesters at Place de la République in Paris

The protests come five months before the presidential election, in which Macron is not eligible to seek a third term. The wave of protests began with high school students in Créteil, a suburb of Paris, demonstrating against staff shortages. It then spread across the country, developing into a broader movement against the rising cost of living.

The footage shows French police helicopters flying over Paris to monitor possible riots or looting during the protests. Riots and looting broke out on October 17, catching security forces by surprise and intensifying criticism of Macron's handling of the crisis. The strike also reduced electricity production at France's nuclear power plants.

Video: ConflictTR / X. Photos: Anadolu