Protests and widespread violence in the streets of France
France has witnessed a wave of protests, riots and looting, in condemnation of the high cost of living and declining purchasing power, coinciding with student demands to improve education conditions.
French union: More than 500,000 protesters demonstrate against the high cost of living amid clashes and arrests
BFMTV quoted the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the country's largest trade union federation, as saying that "more than 500,000 people took part in the protest movement."
In contrast, the French Interior Ministry announced the arrest of 272 people across the country as of 3 p.m. local time, in connection with acts of violence and clashes that accompanied the protests.
The ministry had counted, as of Saturday afternoon, about 32,800 participants in 140 protest movements outside the Paris region , a preliminary tally that does not include the capital and does not represent a final estimate of participation in the demonstrations.
Paris, Marseille, Nice, Lyon and Lille witnessed clashes between groups of demonstrators and security forces , which included riots, vandalism, looting of shops and arson.
A Novosti correspondent reported that clashes in Paris began before the main march started in Place de la République, where young people from violent groups threw bottles, stones and firecrackers at police officers, while security forces responded by using tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons .
Reuters reported that protesters set fire to the tourist office in Lyon, while the town halls in Marseille and Lille were vandalized. Le Monde also reported that unknown individuals broke into and vandalized the official residence of the governor of the Gironde region in Bordeaux, according to local authorities.
In Nice, authorities announced the participation of about 3,500 demonstrators, including 150 people they described as rioters, noting that more than ten people were arrested for acts of looting and vandalism.
Against the backdrop of these events, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu condemned the violence , stressing that peaceful protests have their place in the French Republic, while there is no place for arson, looting and assaults.