French protest groups call for more protests

French protest groups and unions called on Sunday, October 25, for further demonstrations in an attempt to put pressure on the government.

According to the Interior Ministry, 410,000 people took part in Saturday’s marches and authorities deployed 70,000 police officers, helping to prevent a repeat of the looting and vandalism that engulfed many cities on October 17.

Labour leaders have called for more protests next Saturday and a nationwide strike on November 5, saying discontent with wages, the cost of living and the quality of public services extends far beyond the student movement first mobilized last month.

The teachers' union SUD Education said it would join the demonstration on October 31, while major union CGT said it would make a decision within a week.

The Yellow Vests also called for mass rallies next Saturday, including sit-ins near town halls and the national assembly.

The government has begun talks with unions and student representatives to try to resolve the crisis, but protest leaders say the measures proposed so far are insufficient.