Politics · 2026-10-25 · Morning briefing

Nearly 1,000 arrested as cost-of-living protests sweep France

Nearly 1,000 people were arrested across France on Saturday during nationwide protests over the high cost of living and the education system. The Interior Ministry estimated 410,000 people took part in 298 demonstrations, though union organisers from the General Confederation of Labor put the figure closer to 800,000. To maintain order, authorities deployed up to 70,000 police officers, along with helicopters and armoured vehicles.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that while early marches were peaceful, police later faced “an extremely elevated level of violence” from what he termed “ultra-left” groups. One person was seriously injured in Clermont-Ferrand, and a 20-year-old man in Toulouse had his fingers blown off. In Paris, 64 people were arrested, including six minors.

The demonstrations revealed a fractured political landscape. While thousands in Orleans marched against a congress held by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party, authorities in Cannes and Montpellier observed a new phenomenon: far-right activists appearing to protect businesses. The Yellow Vests, another protest group, have called for further action on October 31st.

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• Protests sweep France, Spain as masked mobs loot shops, clash with cops; 1,100 held
• More than 1,000 arrested in France as protesters and police clash in several cities
• Nearly 1,000 arrested as fresh protests sweep France
• Protests Sweep Europe, Clashes Erupt in Several Countries
• 'Nothing justifies it': Macron condemns violent France protests as clashes leave trail of destruction

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