French protests against cost of living draw hundreds of thousands, police use tear gas

Hundreds of thousands of people across France protested again on Saturday against the rising cost of living, with police in Paris deploying water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Authorities had imposed restrictions on gatherings to prevent a repeat of last week's violence. Clashes were also reported in Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, and Toulouse. Organizers claim over 800,000 people participated nationwide, including 250,000 in Paris, while authorities reported 410,000 total. Protesters also demanded increased funding for education. The protests follow last Saturday's riots, which saw buildings and cars set on fire and shops looted. Authorities have tightened security this weekend, and the last-minute rerouting of the Paris march has drawn criticism from unions and left-wing politicians. Police also monitored a far-right party congress in Orleans.