CBC Lite Sections News • World Tens of thousands march in France as protests continue over schools and living costs The Associated Press | Posted: October 24, 2026 12:32 PM | Last Updated: 13 hours ago Around 110,000 march in Paris alone in challenge to Macron, before police respond with tear gas, water cannons Image | FRANCE-PROTEST/ Caption: Protesters take cover amid clashes with French authorities during nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living in Paris on Oct. 24. (Abdul Saboor/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab Clashes erupted in Paris as a mass march drew to a close on Saturday, with more than 400,000 people rallying across France over school funding and soaring living costs in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron's government. The Paris march began peacefully, a week after widespread rioting and looting during protests across the country. Near its end point at Porte de Vincennes, some protesters threw projectiles while police fired volleys of tear gas and used water cannons to disperse people. The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000, while the CGT union estimated nearly 800,000. The ministry's estimate included 110,000 in Paris, where authorities had confined the march to the city's southeastern edge, away from the centre. Elsewhere in France, police used tear gas in several other cities, including Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Strasbourg, as well as water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Marseille, officers fired tear gas during clashes with several dozen people near the march's end point. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police made nearly 1,000 arrests but added that the number is expected to increase significantly as more are counted. Nuñez said beefed-up policing, with 70,000 officers backed by helicopters, armoured vehicles and other support, helped prevent a repeat of widespread looting and damage to shops that occurred during the previous weekend. Image | France Protests Caption: A police officer throws a tear gas canister during a demonstration against rising living costs in Rennes, France, on Saturday. (Jeremias Gonzalez/The Associated Press) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab The unrest is shaking Macron's authority in the final months of his presidency before voters choose his successor in May. The stakes are high: the far-right National Rally has accused his government of failing to protect the public and urged people to channel their anger into votes. In Paris, an Associated Press journalist saw tens of thousands of people marching from Porte d'Italie early in the afternoon, but it appeared to be a smaller crowd than a week earlier. Trade unions led the procession, followed by protesters in raincoats carrying flags and handmade placards. More than half a million people took to the streets last Saturday. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted over that weekend amid street violence not seen in years. Museums closed, shopkeepers worried Gendarmes stood guard beneath the Arc de Triomphe as shopkeepers boarded up storefronts across Paris on Saturday. Near the Saint-Lazare train station Saturday, Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician's shop. "I got the call last night," he said. "The owner seemed desperate. He said I was saving his life." * Just Asking wants to know: What questions do you have about the wave of youth-led protests across Europe? Send us your questions before our Oct. 24 show Major museums, including the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais — where a major Cézanne exhibit is on display — were shuttered Saturday. Art Basel, one of the world's most prestigious contemporary art fairs, opened to the public Friday, but only for the day, with the threat of unrest prompting organizers to cancel the weekend program. WATCH | Here's why student in France started protesting this month: Media Video | CBC News : Caption: Police fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters blockading French high schools — as students, teachers, parents and unions took to the streets against what they say is underfunding of the education system. Rights groups and students have accused authorities of using disproportionate force against minors. The government ‌has responded to the demonstrations with riot police and says the movement has been hijacked by outsiders and morphed into urban violence. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Following the unrest, Paris police prefect Patrice Faure urged Parisian shopkeepers to hire security guards. He later clarified that protecting business owners and their establishments is the responsibility of the government. Some protests have been banned Police changed the Paris protest route Friday. At Bastille, the original starting point, police used a megaphone to tell people to leave or face a 135 euro (around $210 Cdn) fine. Soumaya Abed, a 58-year-old nurse wearing a red CGT union vest, said she had been joining protests for more than 30 years but had never seen a march start at Porte d'Italie. "They are using what happened last week as an excuse to quiet protesters," she said. "But it won't stop the movement. It won't stop students from demanding better conditions in schools." WATCH | Police used tear gas, water cannons during first round of protests: Media Video | CBC News : Caption: Police in France used tear gas and arrested hundreds as widespread demonstrations over underfunding in schools evolved into scenes of anger and unrest over the cost of living. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. A protest march was also scheduled in Marseille, but in cities including Nice and Montpellier, as well as Lyon, rallies were banned by the local authorities. Thousands also marched Saturday in Orléans, south of Paris, in a separate peaceful protest against the far right as the National Rally held a two-day congress in the city. Trade unions have criticized the bans, calling them violations of freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution. Macron, a centrist, has entered the crisis in the final stretches of his term with his popularity at its lowest since he took office in 2017. He has said that the measures are needed to protect city centers, businesses and public buildings. Nuñez acknowledged Monday that police had lost control in some cities during last weekend's unrest. He offered to resign, but Macron refused the offer. Students and workers are angry Student groups want 250,000 more places in higher education and an end to selection through Parcoursup, the national admissions system. Their joint 10-point plan also calls for more teachers and repairs to schools and universities. They are also seeking help with everyday costs: an extra 200 euros (around $310) a month in student grants and a rent freeze in public student housing. High school students have raised concerns about underfunded schools and staff shortages, particularly in lower-income neighbourhoods. Some also called for a reform of the university admissions system, seen by many as unfair. * What's behind the youth protests in France? - Transcript With the government seemingly unable to respond to students' demands, the movement has morphed into larger protests over soaring living costs, just months before the vote to choose Macron's successor. "The money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people," said Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and art teacher at Saint-Denis University. "And it's not possible anymore." Macron met high school representatives Friday. They said he had promised to overhaul university admissions, but they called for protests to continue until concrete measures are announced. Organizers from the "yellow vest" protest movement called for another day of rallies Oct. 31 to defend the right to demonstrate. WATCH | France deployed riot police as students marched: Media Video | Caption: Teachers formed a line to shield students from police in Paris, as countrywide protests over education reform have reached their fourth week. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Other protests rock major European cities While protests in France have claimed most international attention, large demonstrations are also rocking many European cities Saturday from Madrid to Milan, Lisbon and Tirana, Albania. The protests encompass a broad range of issues from pensions and housing to anti-war movements, education and corruption. Image | Italy Protest Caption: (Antonio Calanni/The Associated Press) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab In Milan, luxury boutiques were boarded up in the Italian fashion and finance capital as protesters launched fresh demonstrations on Saturday, one week after looting and clashes with police. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a raft of measures, including sending an additional 500 soldiers to Milan and tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up a large part of the violent protesters last week. Security was also heightened in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and stepped up controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo. * Across Europe, dissatisfaction with traditional politics is driving support for the far right * IN PHOTOS | France student protests spread across Europe A separate anti-war march took off in central Rome, and there are concerns over possible infiltration by violent groups. Organizers sought to distance themselves from potential unrest, urging participants to keep their faces uncovered and hands visible. Aside from Rome and Milan, demonstrations have been called in at least seven other cities. The newly formed "Oct. 17 Movement" has been the main driver alongside student federations, grassroots trade unions, and anti-war coalitions. In Albania's capital Tirana, riot police used water cannons on large groups of protesters, some of whom threw projectiles at police. Authorities said 2,500 police officers are patrolling the streets Saturday. More Stories Like This The related links below are generated automatically based on the story you’ve just read. Loading... CBC Lite is a low-bandwidth website. To see what's new, check out our release notes. For high quality images, media, comments, and other additional features visit the full version of this story. 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