French protests over cost of living turn violent in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon

swissinfo.ch (French) —

Tens of thousands protested across France on Saturday against the high cost of living, with demonstrations in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon marred by clashes between protesters and police. The CGT union claimed over 500,000 participants nationwide and urged the government to stop its crackdown. In Saint-Etienne, a protester lost a hand after picking up a police grenade, while in Marseille dozens of shops were looted and protesters briefly stormed city hall. Authorities reported 272 arrests by 3:00 PM GMT, having warned of potential violence from the far-left. The movement, which drew together yellow vests, students, climate activists, and antifascists, saw attacks on government buildings in Lille and Bordeaux. Political figures reacted, with far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticizing media coverage and far-right leader Marine Le Pen blaming the far-left for hijacking legitimate grievances.


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