Students blockading their high school saw minor scuffles on Thursday morning (November 5) on a day of strikes across France and ahead of expected massive protests around the country.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected to march through French cities and public workers to strike on Thursday, in a fresh test for President Emmanuel Macron after weeks of unrest that have rattled his government and dominated the agenda five months ahead of a presidential election.

The mobilisation, called by trade unions including the left-wing CGT and backed by student groups, comes after demonstrations over living costs, public services and education triggered the worst civil unrest France has seen in years.

Near Paris' Helene Boucher high school, parent Julie Souman said she joined the blockade to make sure students demonstrate in the best possible conditions.

"We're not hear to dictate their movement or to tell them what to do - they are the ones deciding and choosing freely. But we are here so that this takes place in the best possible conditions," she said.

Authorities have sought to lower tensions after riots and looting on October 17 caught security forces off guard, leaving damaged shops and public buildings across the country and fueling criticism of Macron's handling of the crisis.

French authorities will deploy around 70,000 police nationwide. The domestic intelligence service expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join demonstrations outside Paris.

The Education Ministry said 17.5% of public primary school teachers were expected to strike, while unions warned of likely disruptions to rail and public transport services.

Regional trains were also impacted by the strikes, with half of all TER trains suspended on Thursday in northern France.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GOING TO BLOCKADE HIGH SCHOOL STANDING BY POLICE OFFICERS

2. STUDENTS SINGING

3. POLICE WALKING TOWARDS STUDENTS / SCUFFLE BREAKING OUT

4. POLICE OFFICERS SEPARATING PROTESTERS THEY PICKED OUT

5. BANNER READING (French): "MORE MONEY"

6. TRAFFIC PASSING POLICE VANS

7. PROTESTERS, JOURNALISTS AND PRESS GATHERED NEAR SCHOOL

8. POLICE OFFICERS STANDING BY PROTESTERS

9. POLICE OFFICERS PATTING DOWN PROTESTERS

10. POLICE VANS PARKED ON STREET

11. STUDENTS GATHERED OUTSIDE HELENE BOUCHER HIGH SCHOOL

12. STUDENTS BLOCKING ENTRANCE TO ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL

13. STUDENTS CHANTING

14. STUDENTS SITTING ON RUBBISH BINS AT SCHOOL ENTRANCE

15. FACADE OF SCHOOL / BINS BLOCKING ENTRANCE

16. STUDENTS SINGING

17. STUDENTS GATHERED OUTSIDE SCHOOL

18. PEOPLE SUPPORTING STUDENTS STANDING NEAR SCHOOL

19. SIGN READING (French): "PARENTS MOBILISED"

20. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MOTHER OF STUDENT ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL, JULIE SOUMAN, 49, SAYING:

“As the parent of a student, we have mobilised to protect our children, because we have seen the images like everyone else of police violence on the TV, and what has been reported at other Paris high schools, particularly at Helene Boucher and Ravel. And since we don't want this to get out of hand, we are hear to ensure their protection, quite simply. We're not hear to dictate their movement or to tell them what to do - they are the ones deciding and choosing freely. But we are here so that this takes place in the best possible conditions."

21. STUDENTS SEATED ON GARBAGE BIN

22. STUDENT CHANTING, BANNER READING (French): "Support to less privileged high schools"

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2026) (BFMTV - Must on-screen courtesy 'Images BFMTV', no new uses after 0730GMT on November 6, 2026)

23. GENERAL SECRETARY OF ‘FRENCH DEMOCRATIC CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR’ UNION, MARYLISE LEON, GIVING INTERVIEW

24. (SOUNDBITE) (French) GENERAL SECRETARY OF ‘FRENCH DEMOCRATIC CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR’ UNION, MARYLISE LEON, SAYING:

“We have indicators from within companies, across various sectors, showing that people want to speak up. They want to say that they wish to live with dignity through their job. I think that is truly the keyword today."

JOURNALIST SAYING (French): "Live with dignity through their job."

LEON: "We have a problem with purchasing power, we are having trouble making ends meet. Actually, we are having trouble getting by with our job. And that is the message we're sending today to the government, as well as to employers, because today, workers and public service workers are demanding to be heard."

LILLE, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 5, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

25. LILLE FLANDRES TRAIN STATION WITH BOARDED UP RELAY STORE

26. SIGN FOR STATION

27. BOARDED UP RELAY STORE

28. VARIOUS OF BOARDED UP STORES IN EURALILLE SHOPPING CENTRE

29. PEOPLE INSIDE TRAIN STATION

30. SCREEN SHOWING NOTICE FOR SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS DUE TO STRIKES

31. PEOPLE WALKING BY TRAIN

32. VARIOUS OF TER REGIONAL TRAINS

33. VARIOUS OF TRAINS ON TRACKS