France sees its largest protest action yet: around 600,000 participants

The largest mobilization since the movement began

Nearly 600,000 people took to demonstrations across France on Thursday, November 5, according to a preliminary estimate by the country's Interior Ministry cited by BFMTV. This is the largest turnout since the protest movement began: on October 17 the Interior Ministry counted 550,000 participants, on October 24 — 410,000, and on October 31 — 320,000. The CGT trade union confederation gives a substantially different estimate — nearly 1.6 million participants nationwide, and, according to the union, the march in Paris from Place de la République to Place de la Nation gathered 350,000 people. Discrepancies between the ministry and the union are typical for French actions, but in the publication both figures are presented without verification.

Strike in education and union demands

The actions were accompanied by a nationwide strike over wages, purchasing power, and the state of public services. According to the Ministry of Education, nearly 16% of teachers took part in the strike. The SNES-FSU union estimated participation among middle school and lycée staff at 52%, while the Ministry of Higher Education reported disruptions at 60 of 184 institutions. CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet called the strike 'extremely effective' and urged the government to respond to workers' demands. At the Paris demonstration she declared: 'Nothing will stop us,' demanding wage increases for all workers and a 10% rise in the minimum wage. Police intervened against student blockades in several cities, including Paris and Bordeaux, local media report. To maintain order, the authorities deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, according to the Interior Ministry.

The government's response

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that on Monday, November 9, a 'social conference' with trade unions and employers' organizations will be held at the Hôtel Matignon — as stated in a government communication. Thus, against the backdrop of record turnout, the government has set a specific date for dialogue, but the publication gives no information about the agenda or possible concessions. The protests are unfolding against the backdrop of a student movement that began in mid-September over learning conditions, funding, and staffing.