France Deploys 70,000 Officers Amid Nationwide Protests Over Wages and Public Services

U.S. Embassy Warns Americans in France as Mass Protests Disrupt Major Cities

Fox News foreign correspondent Jeff Paul reports on nationwide unrest across France, where up to 700,000 demonstrators are expected and 70,000 police officers have been deployed. The U.S. embassy has issued a security advisory urging American citizens to remain cautious while traveling.

France deployed 70,000 police officers on Thursday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets for nationwide strikes and demonstrations after left-wing groups called for mobilization.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was closed; in Lyon, riot police fired tear gas and charged a group of protesters; and near Toulouse, a high school was set on fire, according to Reuters.

“We need to turn out in large numbers on the streets today,” Reuters quoted Sophie Binet, head of the left-wing CGT union, as saying.

The demonstrations follow a period of violent unrest in October that outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron blamed on “ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic.”

Macron Blames French Protests on ‘Ultra-Left Groups Whose Aim Is to Bring Down the Republic’

A vehicle burns as demonstrators look on during a nationwide day of strikes and protests over wages, the cost of living, and public services. French labor unions called the action, which was joined by high school and university students demanding better education conditions, in Lyon, France, on Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)

An official close to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that by early Thursday, approximately 270,000 people had joined union actions at 180 rallies outside the capital.

About one-third of France’s high schools were closed or unable to operate, some due to student blockades and others because teachers were on strike, The Associated Press reported.

French high school students, officials, and protesters face off with French riot police as they block a street with garbage bins during high school blockades ahead of a demonstration in Paris on Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)

Nuñez said the 70,000 police officers being deployed are supported by armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters.

Authorities in the western Brittany region also said “masked individuals” attempted to block roads in Rennes, while some committed “serious acts of violence,” including throwing steel balls at police.

Americans Warned of Violent Protests as Major Tourist Destination Faces Shutdown Threat

Protesters carry a banner and Communist flags during a nationwide day of strikes and protests in Lyon, France, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)

France’s main unions warned that the country is on the brink of recession and that layoff plans are multiplying.

“Fuel, food products, rent, gas, electricity… everything’s going up except wages and pensions,” they said in a joint statement, according to The Associated Press.

Riot police detain a protester during a protest in Lyon, France, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

The U.S. Embassy had issued an urgent security alert for Americans in France ahead of the demonstrations, warning travelers to brace for severe disruptions, sudden curfews, and the potential for violence.

The rallies come as the campaign to succeed Macron as president next May heats up, with political parties seeking to capitalize on the movement.

A member of the French gendarmerie shoots a tear gas canister during a demonstration in Nantes, France, on Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)

Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, while far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is the favorite to win, The Associated Press reported.

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