France is in turmoil as millions protest, 70,000 police on duty

France has been rocked by protests over rising living costs, low wages and declining public services. Nearly 600,000 people took part in around 200 demonstrations and rallies in various cities across the country on Thursday (November 5). In addition to the demonstrations, workers from various professions have observed general strikes across the country. In some cities, there have been clashes between protesters and police.

Al Jazeera, citing the French Interior Ministry, reported that these programs were held across the country on Thursday. Workers, students and people from different classes and professions participated in the large rally that began in the capital, Paris.

The main demands of the protesters include an increase in the minimum wage, salary increases for all categories of workers, tax reform and ensuring a better environment in educational institutions. Trade unions in the education, railway, hospital and postal departments called for a strike. According to the country's Ministry of Education, about 16 percent of teachers participated in the strike today. The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were also closed due to the protests.

At a rally in Paris, Sophie Bennet, leader of the French labor union CGT, said that the question now is not whether workers will succeed in achieving their demands; rather, what is important is how much they can achieve.

France has been rocked by a series of protests since September. Students first protested against the mismanagement of public universities and the deteriorating learning environment. This was later joined by public anger over rising living costs, fuel prices and social inequality. The October 17 protests were the worst in years.

A history student in the northern city of Lille told Al Jazeera that there was a collective anger among people over low wages, rising prices of basic goods and the lack of public services in educational institutions. A social worker in the southern city of Marseille also expressed concern about the prices of basic goods. He said that the lives of ordinary people have become difficult to meet market expenses.

While most of the demonstrations were peaceful, there were incidents of violence in Lyon, Nantes and Toulouse. Police fired tear gas and a car was set on fire during clashes with masked protesters in Lyon. A school was also set on fire near Toulouse. 70,000 police officers were deployed across the country to control the situation.

Meanwhile, presidential elections are scheduled to be held in France in April. In such a political situation, the ongoing protests over the cost of living have created new pressure on the country's government.