French strikes and protests challenge Macron over cost of living

Strikes and protests swept across France on Thursday in a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron, with civil servants and students marching in over 260 cities against the rising cost of living just five months before the presidential election. The mobilization, called by unions including the left-wing CGT and backed by student groups, follows demonstrations over living costs, public services, and education that have triggered France's largest wave of civil unrest in years. In Paris, high school students clashed with riot police, blocking a street with garbage containers, while authorities mobilized about 70,000 police officers nationwide, with intelligence expecting 500,000 to 700,000 protesters outside the capital. The government has sought to ease tensions after riots on October 17 caught security forces off guard, damaging shops and public buildings. Macron convened a defense and security meeting Wednesday, as officials aim to calm the situation before the election, while the strike has already reduced France's nuclear power generation.