Clashes have broken out across France as hundreds of thousands of people marched against rising living costs, with riot police using tear gas in several major cities.
The demonstrations came a week after protests descended into rioting, prompting Emmanuel Macron’s government to mount a large security operation aimed at preventing further disorder.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said nearly 1,000 people had been arrested nationwide on Saturday. He said officers faced “an extremely elevated level of violence” from black-clad “ultra-left” demonstrators.
Police moved to disperse crowds and protect shops and public buildings in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse, Montpellier and Nantes.
About 70,000 security personnel were deployed across the country. A week earlier, public buildings were vandalised, hundreds of businesses were looted and 2,700 people were arrested.
Mr Nunez said the latest response had produced a more “positive” outcome, pointing to quicker police interventions, additional checks before demonstrations and stronger protection for commercial areas.
At least two people were seriously injured, according to the interior minister. One was a man in Toulouse who reportedly had fingers blown off, while another person was hurt in Clermont-Ferrand.
Rights advocates and protesters nevertheless criticised the government’s approach, saying it represented an assault on freedoms and the right to demonstrate. The unrest comes six months before the election to choose Mr Macron’s successor.
