France nationwide protests over wages and purchasing power, Digi Mart USA News (France): Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on the call of the intersyndicale, the coalition of unions, demanding higher wages and protection of purchasing power.
Near 600,000 people marched on Thursday, November 5, across France, including in Paris, according to the source. Provisional figures from the Interior Ministry describe it as the most widely attended day so far, ahead of October 17, which drew 550,000 protesters.
Participation had fallen to 410,000 on October 24 and then to 320,000 on October 31 before rising again this week.
In Paris, the procession, which included presidential candidates Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Raphaël Glucksmann, who was met with whistles, and Marine Tondelier, set off around 2 p.m. from Place de la République.
Brief tensions broke out along the route and some damage was reported, according to the Paris police prefecture.
After three weeks of social unrest, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced he will convene a “social conference” at Matignon on Monday with trade unions and employer organizations. The conference aims to “provide answers to questions of purchasing power and wages.”
