Nationwide protests over purchasing power and public services held across France

France 24 reported clashes in Paris, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Nice and Marseille. The report described the demonstrations as part of a nationwide day of rallies centred on purchasing power and public services. The demonstrations were held amid sharply different assessments of their size.

According to France 24, citing the French Interior Ministry, 410,000 people took part nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris. France 24 also reported that the union responsible for organising the authorised events estimated a significantly higher turnout of 800,000 nationwide, including 250,000 in the capital. The two estimates also differ on the size of the Paris rally.

Euronews reported that police used tear gas to disperse around 150 protesters outside Lyon 3 University, in an area where demonstrations had been banned. The specific estimate of the number of protesters and the details of the location were reported by Euronews.

In Paris, the BBC reported that the protests were initially mostly peaceful before unrest followed after nightfall. Its account described fireworks and clashes between protesters and riot police. France 24 separately reported confrontations in the capital and in the other cities listed in its coverage.

France 24 reported that the Interior Ministry's nationwide figure was below the 550,000 participants it reported for the previous week. That comparison applies to the ministry's estimate; the organising union's figure for the latest demonstrations was substantially higher. The available reporting therefore establishes a large nationwide mobilisation but not a single agreed attendance total.