France protests: What is driving the unrest and what happens next?

France faced nationwide protests on Thursday over cost of living and public services, with unions and student groups mobilizing demonstrators, following weeks of unrest that included some of the worst street violence in years. The government deployed 70,000 security officers to manage 220 planned demonstrations. The movement began in late September with student protests over underfunded schools and has broadened into a challenge to the government. Authorities are considering a minimum wage increase from €1,478 net monthly, with the CFDT union demanding at least €100 more, while pledging 3,000 teachers and €4 billion for school renovations. The unrest has hit household confidence to its lowest since June 2013 and pressured French debt, with 10-year bond yields at 5.14%, their highest since 2002. It is boosting far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and hard-left Jean-Luc Melenchon in polls ahead of the 2027 presidential election, while similar protests have occurred across Europe.