Rising cost of living in France sparks large-scale protests
The cost of living in France has risen sharply, inflation has increased, and fuel prices have gone up, leading to large and intense public demonstrations across the country in an unexpected manner. This is reported by One.uz.
The demonstrations took place in the capital, Paris, and in major cities such as Marseille, Lyon, and Lille, involving more than 550,000 citizens and marking one of the largest social protests in recent years.
During the protests, there were intense clashes between demonstrators and police in Paris and Marseille. Protesters erected barricades in the streets, set fire to trash bins, vehicles, and in some cases, buildings.
To restore order and disperse crowds, police used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. As a result, dozens of people were injured nationwide, including many protesters who were arrested by police in Paris.
The government officially banned any demonstrations and gatherings near the Élysée Square in central Paris (Champs-Élysées), administrative and government buildings, as well as near major railway stations, in an effort to limit protests in central areas.
However, students and teachers in the education sector also joined the protests, expressing objections over poor conditions in schools and universities, financial constraints in the education system, and low wages.
Fuel and living costs were also a major cause of the unrest. Citizens protested against the unstable rise in prices of everyday goods, declining purchasing power, and frozen social benefits.
Despite the high readiness of police and special forces, protesters’ demands are growing stronger, forcing the French government to take urgent measures to overcome this social crisis and improve the situation.
