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French protests draw 600,000 as police fire tear gas in Paris and Lyon

independent.co.uk — November 5, 2026 at 09:01 PM UTC

At least 600,000 people protested across France in a one-day strike, with clashes erupting between demonstrators and police who fired tear gas in Paris and Lyon. Fires broke out, and firefighters were deployed to extinguish blazes nationwide. The protests, driven by concerns over living costs, public services, and education, mark the worst civil unrest in France in years. Education minister Edouard Geffray condemned "criminal behaviour" after fireworks started a fire at a high school near Toulouse. The Interior Ministry reported 600,000 participants, while the CGT union claimed 1.6 million. The unrest occurs five months before a presidential election, pressuring prime minister Sebastien Lecornu ahead of talks on salaries. It follows riots on 17 October that damaged shops and buildings, prompting curfews and demonstration bans. Around 70,000 police were deployed, and the strike reduced France's nuclear output.

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[2.8]

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[2.8]

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[2.8]

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[2.8]

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[2.8]

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[2.8]

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[2.7]

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[2.6]

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[2.6]

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[2.6]

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[2.6]

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[2.6]

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[2.6]

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[2.5]

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[2.5]

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[2.5]

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[2.5]

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[2.5]

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[2.5]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.4]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.3]

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[2.2]

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[2.2]

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[2.2]

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[2.2]

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[2.2]

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[2.2]

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[2.2]

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[2.1]

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[2.0]

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[1.9]

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[1.9]

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[1.9]

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[1.9]

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[1.8]

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[1.8]

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[1.8]

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[1.8]

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[1.8]

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[1.7]

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[1.7]

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[1.7]

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[1.2]

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[1.1]

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[1.0]

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