France protests: 320,000 march over living costs as Fitch turns negative on debt

Around 320,000 people joined nationwide protests in France on Saturday over living costs, inflation and stretched public services. Scuffles broke out at the end of marches in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse and Marseille, and riot police used tear gas in some places, according to the interior ministry's account of the day.

The afternoon was largely calm. Police charged small groups of troublemakers at the tail end of the Paris march, fired tear gas in Lyon and Toulouse, and dealt with tension after unauthorised protests in Marseille. The ministry said "radical elements" tried to break away from marches in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon and Marseille, but security forces stopped them. Checks at railway stations and on roads also turned up people carrying items that could be used as weapons.

For a government braced for trouble, the numbers offer some relief. The ministry counted 70,000 marchers in Paris and 320,000 nationwide, down from 410,000 the previous week and 550,000 on October 17. That earlier day ended in riots and looting that caught security forces off guard and damaged shops, public buildings and businesses. This time authorities deployed in force, and the Paris route ran along boulevards on the eastern edge of the city, away from the main shopping districts, after the top administrative court upheld a ban on a march between Nation and Bastille.

The crowd was a mix: students, who began mobilising in September over the state of schools and crowded classrooms, trade unions and a smaller group of Yellow Vest protesters. Their shared complaints were the cost of living, high fuel prices and President Emmanuel Macron's government. "Families are struggling with a few cents," protester Jerome Rodriguez said in Paris, accusing leaders of juggling billions. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, whose ratings have risen ahead of next April's presidential election, marched at the front.

The bigger story for markets is the timing. On Friday, Fitch unexpectedly moved its outlook on French debt to negative. Public debt is close to 120% of economic output and borrowing costs are rising, so pressure to cut spending is growing just as the street is demanding more support. Macron's minority government opened talks on its 2027 budget in late September, so the protests and the fiscal squeeze are now running side by side.

The mood has spread beyond France. Youth-led "Gen-Z" demonstrations took place in several German cities on Saturday, and there were protests in Italy. Authorities had also warned that Halloween masks could be used to hide identities. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez noted that existing law lets police ban face coverings when public order is at risk. The US Embassy advised travellers to avoid areas with planned demonstrations, a useful reminder for Indian visitors planning trips to French cities.

Source reporting: Republic World.

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