Between 146,000 and 250,000 people demonstrated in France on Saturday, November 7, compared to 500,000 across the country the previous week, to maintain pressure on the government ahead of a series of meetings with the Executive Branch on Monday. A coalition of unions representing high school, university and teacher organizations called for another day of strikes and demonstrations for Tuesday.

First modification: 07/11/2026 - 22:30

Fourth consecutive weekend of protests throughout France. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday, November 7, to show their anger and "keep up the pressure," ahead of meetings with the government on Monday.

This was the fourth consecutive Saturday of mobilization and the second day of marches this week, after the massive demonstrations called by the unions on Thursday.

"We know that they will pay us for our absences" and that we have to "make up for missed classes, and yet we are still here" to support "high school students, university students, workers and the yellow vests," explained Théo Jamin, a 31-year-old university professor who participated in the Paris march. He came to demand, among other things, "more money for universities and institutes."

In total, some 146,000 people demonstrated across France on Saturday, according to authorities, who reported 360 arrests.

In Paris, 46,000 people – mainly high school students, university students and people between 30 and 40 years old – marched peacefully between the Place de la République and the Place de la Nation (compared to 65,000 on Thursday) called by the youth inter-union group (Union étudiante, FAGE, UNEF, USL) and the unions (CGT, FO, FSU, Solidaires, CFDT). Clashes broke out at the end of the march, which finally broke up completely by nightfall.

The youth inter-union group estimated the mobilization at 75,000 people in Paris and 250,000 throughout France, compared to 200,000 in Paris and 500,000 nationwide a week earlier.

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A peaceful demonstration, with marginal clashes

The marches took place in a calm, sometimes even festive, atmosphere. However, some clashes with police occurred when marches were not declared or were prohibited, such as in Lyon, or at the end of the demonstration in Paris.

The Yellow Vests coordination meeting in the Place de la Concorde in Paris was short-lived. Several dozen people were quickly arrested and fined (135 euros) by the police, including two coordinators, Benjamin Ball and Azelma Sigaux.

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Between the République and the Nation, tens of thousands of people, mostly young high school students, university students and people in their thirties, marched peacefully, at the request of the youth inter-union groups (Student Union, Fage, Unef and USL) and the regional unions (CGT, FO, FSU, Solidaires, CFDT).

"The fact that negotiations with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are going to begin on Monday in Matignon does not mean that the mobilization must end," declared Vincent Gautheron, general secretary of the CGT regional union.

In Lyon, law enforcement officers fired tear gas to disperse "several hundred people occupying public roads" in an area of ​​the city center where gatherings were prohibited, according to the prefecture.

Clashes continued until late afternoon and eleven people were arrested, according to the prefecture.

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"Denouncement of police violence"

In the marches, protesters expressed various demands, but criticism of police repression emerged in several testimonies collected by AFP journalists.

"I am here to denounce police violence and the lack of response to our demands," Emna, a 16-year-old high school student, told AFP in the Place de la République in Paris.

In Toulouse, where the undeclared procession gathered up to 5,000 people, Benjamin, a 22-year-old orderly, also came to express his fears.

"All week I've been wondering: Will I still be alive on Saturday? We don't know what's going to happen. We could end up in jail. We could go to prison for protesting," said the young man, who was wearing a One Piece jacket, which has become a symbol of Generation Z mobilizations around the world, as well as a blue, white and red flag.

In Marseille (5,200 protesters according to the Police Prefecture), Christophe, a 43-year-old industrial designer, expressed his indignation at police methods, but also his concern about the economic difficulties. «Personally, things are still going relatively well. But we know very well that there are people who are having a really bad time, who have problems even eating daily, who have to skip meals or who can no longer afford the cost of gasoline to go to work," he lamented.

In Lille (10,000 protesters according to the prefecture), Florence, 61, came for her children and grandchildren, who fear the future due to climate change and the uncertainties surrounding artificial intelligence. Among young people, the concern is deep and I am surprised by its constant presence every week, commented this woman, a banking executive and graphotherapist.

"If we are here, it is the result of ten difficult years for the French," declared François Dollet, an event organizer in his forties who participated in the Bordeaux march (9,100 protesters, according to the prefecture). In Rennes, the authorities counted "up to 5,500 people", and in Grenoble, "6,000".

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Call for strike in the education sector for Tuesday.

The new day of mobilization aimed to maintain the momentum two days before a social conference with unions and businessmen, convened on Monday morning in Matignon, and meetings with student and institute organizations in the afternoon.

The continuity of the movement will depend largely on the answers that the government gives on Monday during these meetings.

The eight main national unions have already indicated that they will take a position starting Monday night.

An inter-union group in the education sector, which brings together secondary school student associations (USL), university students (Student Union, Unef, Fage, National Federation of Students), as well as teachers and administrative staff (FSU, FO, CGT, SUD), has already called for a day of strike and demonstration for Tuesday.

With AFP

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