France: Unions call for general strike on November 5

French unions and social movements have announced a day of protests for October 31 and a national general strike scheduled for November 5. The actions aim to pressure President Emmanuel Macron’s administration regarding low wages, the rising cost of living, and the deterioration of public services.

The movement has expanded from students and high schoolers to include teachers, firefighters, and other professional groups. Recent demonstrations on October 24 saw significant participation, with the Ministry of the Interior reporting 410,000 protesters and the CGT union estimating 800,000.

Security concerns have escalated following intense clashes in cities such as Lyon and Nice. The Ministry of the Interior reported 1,314 arrests and 53 injured law enforcement officers during the October 24 protests, which required a deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes. Previous mobilizations in October have resulted in nearly 2,000 arrests and at least one fatality.