Social unrest in France continues to grow, with a movement that began in mid-September among students in the Paris region now drawing support from workers affected by the rising cost of living. Demonstrations held across the country on October 31 brought between 320,000 and 500,000 people into the streets, according to the figures cited in the source.
Unions and youth organizations have called another day of action for November 5. The CGT has urged workers to broaden the strike movement, while school blockades are expected at the beginning of the week.
The government faces serious constraints in responding to the protests. It lacks a majority in the National Assembly, has little budgetary room and has limited capacity to reduce France’s dependence on hydrocarbons. Measures already announced, including changes to Parcoursup, the automated platform used for higher-education applications, have so far failed to produce a noticeable effect on the mobilization.
Discussions between Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou and the social partners could lead to announcements on the minimum wage, but those measures are unlikely to meet the expectations expressed by workers’ organizations.
With less than six months before the first round of the presidential election, several declared candidates have put forward proposals on wages and education. Jean-Luc Mélenchon supports the demands of student and high-school organizations, including the abolition of Parcoursup. However, the proposal does not yet include a sufficiently detailed alternative for managing a situation in which the supply of university places may fall well short of demand. The funding and timetable for his pledge to create 250,000 university places also remain unclear.
Raphaël Glucksmann presented a plan to end the crisis in late October. It includes higher grants and the abolition of Parcoursup, with a proposed national debate on youth issues intended to develop a replacement system. The plan provides no precise funding details and is unlikely to convince the young people involved in the protests.
On the right and far right, the response has been more limited. Marine Le Pen, the National Rally candidate, is seeking to present her party as one of order but has not offered a major policy response to the youth crisis. Édouard Philippe and Bruno Retailleau have focused instead on condemning violence, announcing security measures and addressing immigration, positions that overlap with those of the National Rally.
The next president will take office in May 2027 amid a country described as exhausted and angry, and will face the challenge of finding a way out of the crisis under severe economic constraints. The continuing mobilization has increased the pressure on all political forces to provide a concrete response.
Sources: Le Monde Politique.