Overview

• Approximately 250 protests are taking place across France, with 100,000–150,000 participants expected, according to police estimates.
• In Paris, a CGT-led inter-union march began at 2 PM, calling for peace, justice, and opposition to far-right ideologies, while CFDT and Unsa held a separate morning rally at Les Halles.
• Job cuts at ArcelorMittal’s northern France sites, affecting 600 positions, have fueled targeted protests in Dunkerque and beyond, with demands for nationalization of the company.
• Authorities have deployed 2,000 police officers in Paris, citing concerns over potential violence, particularly from far-left groups, with some tensions already reported in Nantes.
• The protests reflect broader frustrations over government austerity, pension reforms, and industrial job losses, setting the stage for further mobilizations in June.