France on edge: Public sector strike turns violent nationwide

Riot police clashed with protesters in Lyon on Thursday as a nationwide public sector strike tapped into growing anger over deteriorating services and the rising cost of living. The demonstrations, which support a student protest movement, turned violent in several cities, with fires set in the streets and officers charging through crowds.

In Lyon, officers wearing black helmets and protective gear deployed water cannons against demonstrators. Some protesters wore gas masks and safety glasses to protect against tear gas. Similar confrontations were captured on video in Paris, where students and other marchers faced off against police lines. The Eiffel Tower was closed to the public due to the strike.

The French Interior Ministry stated at 1 p.m. local time that police were keeping the situation under control, though tensions remained high. The ministry noted that several violent acts occurred as part of the high school student movement. It reported that a fire broke out in the student services office of a school near Toulouse after fireworks were fired at the building.

Physical altercations were recorded in other regions as well. In Rennes, in the northwest, metal petanque balls were thrown at officers. Police reported being pelted with projectiles in the cities of Pau and Orleans. Before the events began, unions estimated that around 250 rallies had been planned across the country, with hundreds of thousands of people likely to attend.

The strike was organized by France’s main labor groups, including the CGT and CNT, which represent public and private sector workers, and the UNEF, a student union. In a joint statement, these groups warned that President Emmanuel Macron’s government was on the brink of recession. They argued that wages and pensions were stagnant while other costs continued to rise, describing the public anger as immense.

The movement originated at the Antoine de Saint-Exupery High School in Creteil, a southeastern suburb of Paris, where students protested staff shortages. Videos of the blockade spread on social media, prompting high schools across the nation to join in. The grievances expanded from the school system to include economic, political, and social dissatisfaction. University students, teachers, parents, and politicians subsequently joined the marches.

Participants held signs criticizing the far-right National Rally party and warned of risks related to climate change and artificial intelligence. Many also displayed Palestinian flags. Ahead of the protests, President Macron convened a defense and security meeting on Wednesday. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that 70,000 police officers would be deployed on Thursday, supported by armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters.

Police tactics have drawn criticism in recent months for injuring protesters. Last month, a 15-year-old was injured by a sting ball grenade fired by officers, and a 14-year-old suffered a jaw fracture in a similar incident. On Oct. 17, a 59-year-old man named Christophe M died of a critical cardio-respiratory failing after leaving Paris’ Place de la Republic, an area that had been tear-gassed by police. An investigation into his death is ongoing.