The key facts

  • Paris police used tear gas against part of the protest column on Boulevard Voltaire
  • More than 250 thousand people from dozens of cities are taking part in the rallies in France
  • The CGT union demands wage increases, measures against the rising cost of living, and resources for public services

Tear gas in central Paris

Paris police used tear gas against participants of a large protest rally, RIA Novosti reports, citing Gazeta.Ru. The acrid aerosol enveloped part of the column moving along Boulevard Voltaire from Place de la République to Place de la Nation; discontented shouts and horn signals could be heard in the crowd.

The scale of the rallies and the unions' demands

Protests in France continue, with more than 250 thousand people taking part from dozens of cities. Before the march in Paris began, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labour union, demanded raises for 'all wages', measures against the high cost of living, and resources for public services.

The European context

Over the past weekend, protests swept many European cities. According to Gazeta.Ru, in Switzerland a march escalated into major riots and clashes with police, in Germany and France protesters resorted to open looting, and in Poland Russia was accused of supporting street demonstrations. The outlet also noted that Putin had earlier named one of the causes of the mass protests in France . The causes and consequences of the unrest are examined in detail in a separate Gazeta.Ru article; however, the publication does not specify what demands are being made in other countries or whether they coincide with the French ones.