400,000 Protest Across France Over Funding and Living Costs
More than 400,000 people protested across France on Saturday over school funding and living costs, with clashes erupting in Paris as police used tear gas and water cannons, challenging President Emmanuel Macron's government. The Interior Ministry reported 410,000 demonstrators nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, where 64 arrests were made. Protests were confined to the capital's southeastern edge following last weekend's rioting, with police deploying tear gas in Lyon and water cannons in Nice. The movement began over high school staff shortages and has expanded to demand better schools, higher wages, and pensions. Macron's popularity is at its lowest since 2017, with the far-right National Rally seeking to capitalize on the unrest ahead of May's presidential election.