France protests draw 320,000

France's Interior Ministry estimated that 320,000 people participated in nationwide protests on Saturday, marking the third straight weekend of demonstrations against living costs and educational policies. The turnout was lower than the 500,000 attendees recorded on October 17 and the 410,000 on October 24, though organizers suggested higher figures. Authorities reported approximately 300 arrests nationwide, a decrease from the 800 arrests recorded at a similar point during the previous week's unrest.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the situation as carrying a very high risk of disorder, particularly after dark. In response, police deployed 70,000 officers and gendarmes across the country. The main march in Paris was rerouted to the city's outer boulevards following a last-minute court decision, a move intended to protect government buildings and tourist sites. An estimated 70,000 protesters gathered in Paris, with groups including high school students, climate activists, and residents concerned about housing costs.

Protesters raised various grievances, ranging from dilapidated student housing to teacher shortages. Corentin Cabreux, a 21-year-old student, described his state-run residence as having damp walls, peeling paint, and infestations of cockroaches and rats. The atmosphere in Paris remained largely festive for several hours, with techno music playing and some participants trick-or-treating. However, clashes erupted near Porte de Charenton as the march concluded. Protesters threw glass bottles and fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Smoke filled the air as dusk settled, prompting many peaceful marchers to retreat into the nearby Bois de Vincennes.

Similar youth-led demonstrations occurred in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands. In Germany, the Gen Z regelt initiative organized rallies in more than 30 cities, demanding investments in education, health, and climate protection while opposing the return of military conscription. In Berlin, students gathered at Brandenburg Gate, citing crumbling school infrastructure. Lara Breitenbach, a high school student, stated that authorities must invest in social services because the current generation will live with the consequences the longest.

Police in Germany used water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Cologne, Hamburg, and Frankfurt after conflicts broke out. In Cologne, officers ended a march early after protesters used pyrotechnics and threw stones. In Frankfurt, several police officers were injured by stones, with one suffering severe harm. Meanwhile, thousands of families protested the housing crisis in Lisbon, carrying placards reading Houses or Fire and We are not Afraid.

In The Hague, the Netherlands, a heavy police presence monitored the downtown area amid fears of rioting. Many local stores boarded up their windows as a precaution. Police checked the identities of groups of young people, but no major disturbances had occurred by midafternoon. In Paris, specific curfews were imposed to manage the crowds. Unaccompanied minors faced a 9 p.m. curfew near the Champs-Elysees, a restriction that followed a court ruling suspending an earlier, broader curfew as an illegal infringement on freedom of movement.

Macron stated that keeping marches out of city centers would help protect local shops. Police barred entry to Place de la Republique and Les Halles between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The ongoing protests have tested the government's response to a diverse coalition of young and working-age citizens demanding structural changes to public services and economic relief.