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The streets of Paris and much of France have quieted after a day of protests, but more demonstrations are planned for November 20-22. The French Interior Ministry estimated that 575,000 people participated in Thursday's protests, while unions claimed the number was 1.6 million. These protests come just five months before a presidential election, with current President Emmanuel Macron facing criticism for his handling of previous protests on October 17, which involved riots and looting.
The protests are driven by demands for higher wages, better working conditions, and increased funding for public services. According to CNBC, French lawmakers recently rejected the government's cost-cutting budget, which has fueled the protests. The government, led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, aims to reduce the deficit by 54 billion euros, but the divided National Assembly has made agreements on fiscal policy challenging.
The protests began with student demonstrations over education funding and have grown to include a broad coalition of high school and university students, workers, and members of the Yellow Vest movement. Le Monde reports that the protests have transformed into a broad-based movement demanding an increase in the minimum wage, protection of public services, and greater tax fairness.
The French government is expected to use special powers to pass the budget without a parliamentary vote, as analysts suggest that the rejection of the budget was anticipated due to the fragmented parliament. The outlook for France remains challenging, with low economic growth and rising discontent among citizens.