French unions have called on employees in the public and private sectors to strike today, Thursday, and urged youth and retirees to join the anticipated protests against the rising cost of living and soaring prices.
In the same context, France 24 reported that the French trade union coalition expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to participate in protests outside Paris, and between 40,000 and 80,000 people in the capital.
Disruptions in transport and education
The French railway company "SNCF" announced on Wednesday evening that train services will face moderate to severe disruptions today on regional lines, some regional high-speed train lines, and other trains in the suburbs of Paris, due to a labor strike covering multiple professional sectors.
The company noted that services will be more regular on main lines, with one out of every ten high-speed train (TGV) journeys canceled, while the French Ministry of National Education predicted that 17.5 percent of public primary school teachers would participate in the strike.
Security and government measures
For his part, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that he ordered the deployment of 70,000 police and security personnel, threatening a "response characterized by the utmost firmness" against any violations.
French government spokesperson Maude Parigot added, following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening, that reviving the events of October 17, which saw widespread riots and looting, is not feasible.
France has witnessed protests since mid-September, starting in schools and universities, before spreading to several cities and regions across the country, expanding to include trade unions and activists from the "Yellow Vests" movement, protesting against the high cost of living, declining public services, and the government's economic policies.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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