Protests erupt across France after left-wing groups call for mobilization

Fox News · Greg Norman-Diamond · 2026-11-05 15:36 UTC

An estimated 270,000 people joined nationwide strikes and protests across France on Thursday, putting pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's government.

France deployed 70,000 police officers Thursday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets for nationwide strikes and protests after left-wing groups called for a mobilization.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was closed; in Lyon, French riot police fired tear gas and charged a group of protesters; and near Toulouse, a high school was set on fire, according to Reuters.

"We need to turn up in big numbers on the streets today," the news agency quoted the head of the left-wing CGT union Sophie Binet as saying.

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