Burning buildings and tear gas mark 29th day of French student protests

Nationwide demonstrations over education and cost of living turn violent ahead of presidential election

By LineZotpaper

Published18 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Protests across France entered their 29th day on Saturday, with clashes between demonstrators and police in multiple cities including Paris, Lyon and Marseille, as the country heads toward a presidential election. The tourist office in Lyon was set on fire, and windows at the offices of French broadcasters CNews and Europe 1 in Paris were smashed, French media reported.

In Paris, police fired a water cannon and tear gas after hundreds of protesters, many wearing face masks and some setting off fireworks, confronted them at several locations on Saturday. Authorities banned protests around government buildings, the Champs-Elysees shopping avenue and train stations, and detained around 60 people in the morning.

More than 600 demonstrations were planned across France, according to a website set up by organisers. An interior ministry source told AFP that more than 32,000 protesters took part in some 140 actions nationwide outside Paris shortly after midday on Saturday, and police detained more than 160 people nationwide.

In Marseille, masked protesters rammed the door of the mayor's offices with security barriers as one demonstrator shouted “We're taking the Bastille” – a reference to the 1789 storming of a fortress during the French Revolution. Several entered the town hall, one spray painting an anarchist symbol on an inside wall, before police intervened.

“We're here to protest the deplorable resources allocated to education and against police brutality,” said Aude, a masked student who did not give her surname.

The protests are piling pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's government after weeks of student demonstrations turned violent. The country's Yellow Vest movement, which staged street protests eight years ago over planned fuel tax hikes, called for “yellow and youth” demonstrations.

There has been public criticism over the police's perceived disproportionate response. In the western city of Rennes, around 20 people set up a barricade using trash bins and large pallets. Christophe, a 47-year-old carpenter and former Yellow Vest protester who did not give his surname, told AFP he was indignant after seeing what he viewed as police brutality against teenagers. “We've reached the point where the repression is targeting our own children,” he said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The protests are piling pressure on President Macron's government ahead of a presidential election, potentially shaping voter attitudes toward security and economic policy.
The demonstrations highlight broader discontent over the cost of living and education funding, issues that affect millions of French citizens.
Escalating violence and police response could increase public polarization and influence the political landscape in the coming weeks.

Background

France has a long history of mass protests, from the 1968 student-led uprisings to the Yellow Vest movement that began in 2018 over fuel taxes. The current student protests, now in their 29th day, began over education funding and the rising cost of living. The Yellow Vest movement has re-emerged in support of the students, calling for coordinated action. The presidential election adds a political dimension, as candidates jostle for position amid public unrest.

Key Perspectives

Students and protesters: They demand better resources for education and an end to what they describe as police brutality. Many see the protests as a fight against government policies that favour the wealthy. The French government: Has banned protests near sensitive locations and deployed significant police resources. The Macron administration faces a delicate balance between maintaining public order and addressing grievances. Yellow Vest movement: Veterans of the 2018 protests have publicly supported the students, aiming to revive their own campaign against economic inequality. Critics of police tactics: Some observers, including lawyers and human rights groups, have questioned the proportionality of police force used against minors and peaceful demonstrators.

What to Watch

Whether the government offers any concessions on education funding or cost-of-living measures to defuse the situation.
The scale of protests in the coming days, particularly if they spread to more cities or draw larger crowds.
Reactions from presidential candidates, who may take stronger stances on law and order or social justice to appeal to voters.

Sources

Burning buildings and tear gas mark 29th day of French student protests — Just In