Why protests in France are growing: “An intense controversy”
The social protest movement in France continues to grow. Trade unions, students, and the Yellow Vests are intensifying pressure on the government, fueled by an anger that shows no signs of subsiding.
“The approaching election is the catalyst that has caused this to grow to such a scale,” says political scientist Marie Demker.
It began with students demanding more resources for schools, alongside the Yellow Vests’ persistent protests against the high cost of living. Ahead of a general strike on November 5, an alliance of trade unions has also called for widespread action across the country—focusing on “wages, public services, employment, and industry,” according to French media reports.
“The anger is immense. The country’s situation is fragile. We must address urgent social and environmental issues without delay,” the alliance stated.
Marie Demker, a professor of political science at the University of Gothenburg, believes that the fact that France has become a powder keg of protest is partly due to next year’s presidential election.
“Various groups are looking to strengthen their positions ahead of the election,” she says.
Frustration is growing
In the short term, the situation can also be traced back to the snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron in 2024, after the far-right party National Rally received over 30 percent of the vote in the European Parliament elections, says Marie Demker. Since then, the situation has been particularly deadlocked.
“We talk about ‘red lines’ in Sweden, but here, the level of contention has been immense,” she says.
The situation is exacerbated by France’s extremely strained economy, with a national debt amounting to 119 percent of GDP. Consequently, there is minimal room for reform, even as parts of the welfare infrastructure are under severe pressure. Parliament is currently negotiating major cuts for next year’s budget.
“It is impossible to push through any kind of change because the parliament lacks a clear majority for any particular direction. This causes frustration among citizens to grow ever greater. People see their purchasing power being eroded and welfare issues left unaddressed.”
A class-based society
Yet, France remains one of the European countries that spends the most on welfare relative to the size of its economy. However, there are significant gaps in the system, Marie Demker points out. Transport unions, for instance—which are now calling for strikes—argue that the cuts are hitting hard, resulting in “diminished social status and stagnant wages.”
According to Demker, France remains a distinctly class-based society.
“The economic and social inequality is enormous,” she says.
She does not believe that Macron will succeed in calming the waves of protest through minor reforms. However, she predicts that the looting will eventually subside—partly because the police are better prepared, but also because the violence primarily benefits the far-right.
“Even Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who leads the far-left, has called for calm.”
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