French police detained dozens of people as nationwide protests against rising living costs erupted on Saturday.
Exposing growing public frustration months before the country chooses President Emmanuel Macron’s successor.
More than 600 demonstrations were planned across France.
The Yellow Vest movement urging students, workers, teachers, pensioners and farmers to join.
The protests also reflect anger over education funding and alleged police brutality during recent student demonstrations.
In Paris, police detained around 60 people before the main rally began.
Clashes also broke out in Marseille, where officers fired tear gas after demonstrators attacked a police building and blocked a road.
In Rennes, protesters built a barricade near a shopping centre.
The unrest has revived memories of the Yellow Vest protests eight years ago.
These began over fuel tax increases and grew into a broader challenge to Macron’s government.
Why Is The Anger Growing Now?
A recent survey found that around 45% of French people were worried about inflation and the cost of living.
Carpenter and former Yellow Vest protester Christophe told AFP he was outraged by what he considered police repression against young people.
Macron called for “calm and respect”, stressing that the right to protest must also respect people and property.
With far-left and far-right parties seeking to capitalise on public discontent.
The demonstrations could offer an early glimpse of France’s political mood ahead of the presidential election.
