Franche-Comté braces for fourth Saturday of protests over wages and student conditions

Protests dubbed "Act IV" are taking place across France on Saturday, November 7, demanding higher wages, fuel price caps, and better student conditions. The demonstrations follow three consecutive Saturdays of unrest and a union-led strike two days prior. In Franche-Comté, authorities reported nearly 10,000 protesters in Besançon, with smaller crowds in Belfort, Montbéliard, Vesoul, and Pontarlier. While most marches were peaceful, Besançon saw clashes as demonstrators attempted to breach a prefectural ban on entering the city center. The government has announced a social conference for November 9 to address purchasing power and salary concerns. Unions are pushing for a €100 net increase in the minimum wage or a 10 percent rise, while organizers anticipate lower turnout this weekend compared to last week's 800 actions nationwide.