November 7 Protests: Only 146,000 Participants, 360 Arrests, and Waning Mobilization

The fourth day of mobilization against the high cost of living confirms the decline of protests in the streets. According to the report released on Saturday, November 7, by the Ministry of the Interior, 146,000 people demonstrated across France, including 46,000 in Paris, during 141 gatherings. The youth inter-union claims 250,000 participants, including 75,000 in the capital. Despite this discrepancy between estimates, the decrease is clear: Beauvau had recorded 320,000 protesters on October 31, 410,000 on October 24, and 550,000 on October 17. After four Saturdays of protest, the mobilized organizations are now struggling to regain the participation levels of the initial days.

The relative calm observed in several marches did not prevent new clashes. At 7 p.m., the Ministry of the Interior reported at least 360 arrests, compared to 232 one hour earlier. Incidents were notably reported in Toulouse, Grenoble, Marseille, Nantes, Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, and Dijon. According to authorities, several groups of radical activists attempted to enter prohibited areas and threw projectiles or fireworks toward law enforcement. In Paris, the demonstration between République and Nation proceeded mostly peacefully, before tensions arose during the dispersal of the procession.

The government notes a decline in protests

Laurent Nuñez had nevertheless chosen to maintain an exceptional deployment of 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, supported notably by armored vehicles and water cannons. Nearly 40,000 preventive checks were carried out in train stations and on routes leading to city centers. The Minister of the Interior condemned the presence of violent groups determined to provoke clashes, while praising the actions of security forces. Authorities had also banned several autonomous gatherings, including one announced by the Yellow Vests at Place de la Concorde.

The decrease in the number of protesters does not mean that demands have disappeared. Two days earlier, the interprofessional mobilization on November 5 had still gathered 575,000 people according to the ministry, focused on wages and purchasing power. Sébastien Lecornu is now expected to meet with trade unions and employers on Monday at Matignon to discuss government responses, including a possible early increase of the minimum wage.