French protests draw hundreds of thousands, clashes erupt in Paris

Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across France on Saturday to defend purchasing power and demand better public services, with tensions erupting at the end of the marches. The CGT union counted 800,000 protesters nationwide, while the Interior Ministry reported 410,000, down from 550,000 the previous week. Clashes broke out in Paris, where police used water cannons and tear gas against over 500 "casseurs" on the Cours de Vincennes. In Toulouse, one person was seriously injured, while incidents also occurred in Marseille, Lille, and Grenoble, where masked individuals attacked officers with projectiles. Protesters voiced anger over public service decline, rising costs, and restrictions on demonstrations, with some chanting "Marianne!" in defiance. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez deployed 70,000 officers, and 135 arrests were made by early afternoon. The government cited a "high threat level" from the "ultra-left," while the Human Rights League requested a UN observation mission.