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Received — 18 October 2026 ⏭ France 24 - English

France: Protests "brought the entire population together for a common purpose"

18 October 2026 at 10:05
This weekend, in cities across France, some 800,000 protesters, including students, railway workers and members of the Yellow Vest movement, took to the streets in largely peaceful nationwide demonstrations. Sparked by a month of high school student protests over educational inequality and crumbling school facilities, the movement has grown into a broader outcry over the cost of living, public spending and climate inaction, as people across France say they have reached their breaking point.

France: Who took part in Saturday's protests?

18 October 2026 at 10:03
Weeks of student protests over poor conditions in schools and rising anger over the cost of living fuelled calls for a nationwide demonstration on October 17, bringing together youth activists and supporters of the Yellow Vest movement. The main grievance was the cost of living. The protesters demonstrating against it 'didn't get what they wanted', analyses France 24's Shirli Sitbon.

France: Who was behind the violence at Saturday's protests?

18 October 2026 at 10:01
Violent clashes, fires, vandalism and looting marred demonstrations across France on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people marched against the rising cost of living and poor conditions in schools. The French Interior Ministry said about 400 people were arrested nationwide. Our partner TV station France 2 examined who was involved in the violence during Saturday's protests.

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