France braces for mass protests as students, farmers, and civil servants unite
Massive protests erupted across France on Saturday, uniting students, farmers, civil servants, and "yellow vest" activists in roughly 500 actions against rising living costs and public education cuts, keeping the government on edge. President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm Friday night, while Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of potential incidents. Police made dozens of arrests in Paris by mid-morning, with clashes reported in Marseille and barricades blocking streets in Lyon. The movement, born from a TikTok call for October 17, follows weeks of student unrest that has left 210 students and 150 staff injured, with 8,000 arrests and 30 million euros in damages. France faces slowing growth and a 5.2% deficit forecast for 2026.