French protest groups and unions call for more rallies as Macron faces limited options

French protest groups and unions called Sunday for further demonstrations after a massive security operation contained unrest during Saturday's nationwide rallies, with the Interior Ministry reporting 410,000 participants and 70,000 police deployed. Labour leaders urged protests next Saturday and a nationwide strike on November 5, citing converging grievances over wages, living costs, and public services that extend beyond the student movement. The Yellow Vests also called for mass rallies, while police unions warned they lack staff for sustained high-level deployment. President Emmanuel Macron faces limited options as strained public finances restrict concessions, his mandate expires next April, and his party lacks a parliamentary majority. The government has begun talks with unions, but protest leaders say proposed measures are inadequate, with 1,314 arrests Saturday compared to over 2,600 last week.