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File · France’s autumn 2026 social protests

France protests: ministry counts 320,000 as evening clashes break out

France’s interior ministry counts 320,000 protesters nationwide on 31 October 2026, including 70,000 in Paris. The youth union coalition puts turnout at nearly 500,000, including 200,000 in the capital.

The ministry’s count is below the 410,000 reported by the authorities for the previous Saturday. This third national protest day brings together students, unions and Yellow Vest protesters over living costs and public services.

Marches were relatively calm during the afternoon, followed by tensions as demonstrations ended in Paris and several other cities. Reuters reports police charges in the capital and tear gas in Lyon and Toulouse. Participation estimates remain attributed to the organisations that supplied them and are not an independent count.

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