Protests Sweep France in Opposition to Rising Cost of Living and Other Issues
Tens of thousands protest in France over the cost of living and government policies.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
London, October 17 (KUNA) -- French media reported on Saturday that hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protests across France, objecting to the rising cost of living and other issues, as French police attempted to disperse the demonstrators. In this context, France 24 noted that approximately 500,000 people, representing major trade unions and other organizations, participated in the protests. The French government had recently reinstated the use of sound bombs against protesters, coinciding with police efforts to break up unauthorized marches. In the cities of Lille and Marseille, protesters briefly managed to breach town halls before police intervened to remove them. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior announced that it had carried out nearly 300 arrests across France by the afternoon. In statements to the media, many participants explained that the marches aimed to highlight long-standing issues related to climate, the economy, and inequality, which they argued the French government had failed to address. (End) A.S.H./R.J.
