French Nationwide Strikes Spark Clashes and School Blockades

PARIS, Nov 5 (OPA) — Demonstrators and security forces clashed in Paris and regional cities early Thursday as nationwide demonstrations disrupted schools and public transport. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons in Lyon to enforce marching bans, while protesters in Paris gathered along the Rue de Rivoli and Boulevard Voltaire under heavy police surveillance. The demonstrations follow escalating tensions between labor unions and the government over purchasing power and public spending.

Matignon reported that only 2.2 percent of educational establishments nationwide, representing 81 institutions, experienced blockades by 10 a.m. The Ministry of Education added that no disruptions were registered in 84 percent of France's departments. In sharp contrast, the Union Syndicale Lycéenne asserted that 1,000 high schools were brought to a standstill, combining active blockades and administrative closures.

Violence flared outside several academic facilities, including the Claude Bernard school in Villefranche-sur-Saône, where police reported mortar fire and scuffles among a crowd of 150 people. In Villeurbanne, the Pierre Brossolette high school was evacuated after mortar fire forced officials to transition classes to remote learning. CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet criticized the government's economic policies, demanding a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage and inflation-indexed salaries.

More than 260 demonstrations are scheduled across France, with up to 30,000 participants expected in Lyon alone. Authorities maintained stringent security perimeters around city centers following property damage during previous demonstrations in October. Labor leaders warned that industrial actions could expand further if wage negotiations fail to meet union demands.