Protesters clashed with police in France on Saturday as demonstrations over living costs and public services entered a fourth consecutive weekend and drew students, trade unions and members of the revived "Yellow Vest" movement onto the streets. The country's Interior Ministry counted 146,000 demonstrators nationwide, including 46,000 in Paris. A youth union alliance put attendance at 250,000 nationally and 75,000 in the capital. At least 360 people were arrested across the country, AFP reported , citing a ministry tally.
Police used tear gas against people throwing projectiles as the main Paris march ended at Place de la Nation, per AFP . Garbage cans were set alight as protesters and police clashed in several cities, according to Le Monde .
Police blocked a separate, banned Yellow Vest gathering at Place de la Concorde and arrested two movement leaders, Le Monde reported.
The Yellow Vests emerged in 2018 in opposition to fuel-tax increases, before broadening into a movement protesting high living costs and the policies of President Emmanuel Macron.
The turnout was lower than on the previous three weekends. It was also below union-led demonstrations on Nov. 5, when the Interior Ministry counted 575,000 people nationwide.
The protests began in late September with high-school students demanding better conditions, before university students and unions joined.
This weekend's protests come after French lawmakers rejected the revenue section of the 2027 budget, as the government wrestles with addressing public anger while trying to rein in its finances.
The government's original proposal now goes to the Senate, which is scheduled to begin debating it Nov. 20 .
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is due to meet labor and employer representatives Monday to discuss wages and purchasing power.
