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Paris protests broaden as Gaza war, police powers and living costs draw tens of thousands
Tens of thousands of people rallied again in Paris, with marches against high living costs, a proposed police self‑defense law, Emmanuel Macron’s policies and the war in Gaza overlapping in the streets.
Large crowds returned to the streets of Paris this weekend, as several protest movements overlapped around the capital and kept pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
According to organizers, tens of thousands of people joined demonstrations that mixed opposition to a proposed police self‑defense law with anger over the cost of living, Macron’s broader agenda and the war in Gaza.
A youth trade union coalition said about 100,000 people mobilized near Place de la Nation, a traditional protest gathering point. In a separate march, “yellow vest” activists, students and children’s rights advocates walked from Place de la République toward Nation, focusing on living costs and social inequality.
Another rally, called by the Patriots movement, targeted Macron’s policies more directly with slogans such as “Macron! We Won’t Fight Your War!” Protesters also carried Palestinian flags, and graffiti reading “Free Gaza” has become a regular feature during weekend unrest, underlining how the Gaza conflict has fed into French domestic politics.
For residents of Paris, the protests mean blocked routes, disruptions to public transport and a heavy police presence near key squares. Recent weekends have seen tear gas used and injuries reported at Nation, adding to a sense of volatility in some central areas.
French security forces must manage several demonstrations at once, each with its own organizers and demands. That stretches police resources and raises the risk that confrontations in one march spill over into another.
Politically, the persistence of large protests over police powers, living standards and foreign policy keeps Macron under sustained criticism from both left‑wing and nationalist groups. The government’s decisions on the proposed police law and its stance on Gaza will shape whether these demonstrations grow, fade or combine into a more lasting movement.
Key signs to watch are changes in turnout in Paris and other cities, any revisions to the police self‑defense bill and the degree of coordination between trade unions, student groups, yellow vests and parties that oppose Macron.