PARIS, Nov 5 — Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets across France on Thursday, as unions hold strikes alongside student-led demonstrations that have gripped the country for weeks.
The protests come as the eurozone’s second largest economy battles to redress its finances, six months ahead of elections to replace centrist President Emmanuel Macron, with the far right leading in opinion polls.
The high school student movement that began with youth protesting dismal learning conditions has coincided with widespread anger over the rising cost of living and inequality, which culminated on October 17 in the worst rioting France has seen in years.
“We should be able to make a decent living from our jobs,” CFDT union secretary general Marylise Leon said on the BFM television channel, addressing both the state and employers.
