Hundreds of thousands expected at protests across France over cost of living
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to demonstrate across France on Saturday, 17 October. Students, trade union members and remnants of the Yellow Vest movement are joining forces.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take part in demonstrations across France on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Students, trade union members and remnants of the Yellow Vest movement are joining forces to protest the rising cost of living and what organisers see as the fraying of the country's social model, according to broadcaster France 24.
Student protests as a backdrop
Student discontent has already spilled onto the streets. On 6 October, high-school students demonstrated at the Place de la République in Paris as part of a nationwide protest movement over learning conditions. A photograph from that event shows a banner reading "Repression will not stop our revolt".
What else is known
FRANCE 24 is following Saturday's events in a liveblog with the latest developments. The report was prepared with material from AFP, AP and Reuters. The source does not give details on which cities will host the rallies, what the specific demands are, or how the government is responding.
