HIBAPRESS – Agencies
France witnessed widespread protests on Saturday, with approximately 800,000 people participating, according to estimates from organizations involved in the movement, to denounce the high cost of living. Students, members of the Yellow Vest movement, and environmental activists participated. Some of the demonstrations were marred by clashes with security forces, who used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
In the city of Marseille, protesters briefly stormed the city hall building after breaking down the door using security barriers. Some entered the building, where one of them drew a symbol associated with anarchist activists on a wall, before police intervened.
These protests recall the Yellow Vest movement that France witnessed in 2018 and 2019, protesting the increase in fuel taxes, before it expanded to include demands related to purchasing power and cost of living.
According to estimates from participating organizations, the figure of 800,000 protesters was based on data received from several major cities, including Montpellier, Strasbourg, Lille, Bordeaux, Nantes, and Marseille.
These movements come in the context of escalating protests related to the high cost of living, amid demands for measures to alleviate the economic burden on citizens.
