Up To 800,000 People Took To The Streets In France To Protest

• 25.10.2026, 9:34

The police used tear gas and water cannons.

On Saturday, October 24, another round of mass protests took place in France. Fearing riots, authorities allowed only demonstrations organized by labor unions, and in many cities they restricted or banned gatherings. This was reported by RFI.

Authorities and organizers have differing estimates of how many people took to the streets. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, 410,000 people participated in protests across the country, including 110,000 in Paris. The General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union counted 800,000 participants, including 250,000 in the capital.

Protesters are speaking out against rising prices and the deterioration of public services. In recent days, discontent over bans on public gatherings has been added to these demands. These bans—and in some cities, a curfew—were imposed following the riots that took place last Saturday, October 17.

To maintain order, authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes. This is nearly 20% more than a week earlier. The government attributed these measures to numerous calls by “ultra-leftists” for unlawful actions.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that by midday, 135 people had been detained nationwide. According to him, most of them were detained during searches because they were carrying items that could be used as weapons.

In Paris, the police prefecture banned the march along its traditional route from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation at the last minute. The procession ultimately took a route through the southern part of the city. Left-wing parties accused the authorities of deliberately disrupting the protests. Toward the end of the march, tensions escalated: various objects were thrown at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. The prefecture stated that about 500 people were involved in the clashes, whom they referred to as “rioters.”

Clashes with police also occurred in other cities. In Lyon, where demonstrations had been banned, several thousand people gathered in small groups. Fireworks were thrown at the police, and law enforcement responded with tear gas. In Nantes, tear gas and water cannons were used; a store was also attacked there, and six people were detained in connection with the incident. Barricades were reported in Bordeaux, and bank windows were smashed in Grenoble. In Toulouse, one protester suffered a serious hand injury: according to a medical professional, several of his fingers were severed by the explosion of a device nearby.