France’s Second Wave: 400,000 Protesters March Peacefully Before Evening Clashes
Over 400,000 people protested across France on October 24, 2026, in a second major wave of demonstrations. While the main marches remained largely peaceful, clashes erupted in the evening in Paris, Marseille, and other cities. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported nearly 1,000 detentions, a significant increase from the previous week but with less property damage. The unrest, driven by high living costs and education funding, spread to Italy, Albania, and Belgium, with far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon threatening a general strike if President Emmanuel Macron does not yield to demands.
