Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest inflation and the rising cost of living, while also opposing a new bill that critics say would effectively give police officers a "license to kill."
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France, the European Union's second-largest economy, has been facing protests involving various social groups for more than a month, most notably high school student demonstrations and protests over the rising cost of living, ahead of presidential elections scheduled for April.
The Interior Ministry said approximately 106,000 people demonstrated across France, including 24,000 in Paris, marking the lowest turnout in recent weeks.
However, student unions estimated the number of protesters at around 200,000 nationwide, including nearly 100,000 in the capital.
The number of arrests also dropped significantly compared with previous demonstrations. The Interior Ministry reported 219 arrests nationwide, while the Paris prosecutor's office said 45 people had been arrested in the capital.
During the demonstrations, held for the fifth consecutive Saturday, protesters gathered at Place de la République in Paris on Saturday afternoon, chanting slogans including "No peace without justice."
Others called for the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron, chanting, "Everyone hates the police."
Demonstrations in recent weeks have generally remained peaceful, although some have been accompanied by riots and looting. Protesters have accused police of using excessive force.
The Yellow Vests movement joined high school students, trade unions and other activists advocating for children's rights or opposing a bill that would provide police officers with greater protection when using firearms.
Benjamin Paul, a member of the movement, told thousands of demonstrators in Paris, including students, union members and human rights activists: "The government has offered us only crumbs, but we want the whole bakery."
Meanwhile, Adrien, a 20-year-old cellist participating in a volunteer orchestra, said he was protesting against a new bill that would establish a legal presumption that police officers who use their firearms acted in legitimate self-defence.
"We feel afraid when we come out to protest, and this will only increase our fear if their impunity is reinforced," he said.
His remarks followed an incident last month in which police fired tear gas at a similar group of protesting musicians.
Supporters of the bill, including Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party, argue that it is necessary to prevent police officers from automatically being suspected of using excessive force.
However, opponents of the legislation, which has been approved by the National Assembly and is due to be presented to the Senate soon, say it amounts to a "license to kill" and would make it extremely difficult to hold law enforcement officers accountable.
According to official figures, approximately 146,000 people participated in demonstrations across France last Saturday, significantly fewer than in previous weeks.
The largest protests in recent weeks took place during a nationwide strike called by trade unions last Thursday, when more than half a million people took to the streets across the country, according to official figures.
Trade unions have called for another strike on Tuesday after rejecting the government's pledge to increase the minimum wage by 0.6%, describing the proposed increase as merely "crumbs."
