France Gripped by National Strikes and Protests
Hundreds of thousands expected to march as unions target schools, hospitals, and transport over cost of living and teaching conditions.
Carla Rooney
France faces widespread disruption today as five unions initiate national strikes and protests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes to manage the demonstrations. More than 250 separate actions are planned for today.
Disruption has already hit schools, hospitals, and public transport. The national rail operator SNCF announced disturbances to train services; dockers indicated disruption in French ports.
High school students protest poor teaching conditions; workers demonstrate against the rising cost of living. The education ministry expects approximately 18% of nursery and primary school teachers to strike.
The minimum wage, or Smic, currently stands at €12.31 (£10) an hour. The government released 10 million barrels of diesel from strategic reserves in an effort to lower fuel costs.
France expects to import more electricity than it produces today, reportedly due to disruption at nuclear plants. Public debt in France approaches 120% of economic output.
The main march in Paris will follow a central route from Place de la République to Place de la Nation. The CFDT union complained that court approval for this route was only granted on Wednesday evening.
Last Saturday's nationwide protests were generally peaceful, though some clashes occurred on the fringes. An attempted murder investigation launched after petrol bombs were thrown at security forces in Paris during those events.
Authorities admitted security and intelligence failures contributed to clashes, large-scale looting, and vandalism of public property on October 17. The Paris prefecture previously banned a major protest route planned between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Concorde.