Paris saw another wave of protests this weekend (November 14), one of a series of demonstrations across the country against the high cost of living and calling for better schools.

Thousands of demonstrators, including students, unions, ‘Yellow Vests’ and private sector workers joined the march from Place de la Republique to Place de la Nation.

Several demands have been converging in the previous weeks’ protests across France: High school students demand renovations to ageing buildings, more substitute teachers and the scrapping of confusing university application platforms.

Workers unions have rejected a planned minimum wage hike as not sufficient to cover the rising cost of living and which would increase it by just 24 euros to 1,502 euros a month.

And others have condemned a proposed legislation to give police the benefit of the doubt when involved in shootings and which critics have dubbed a "licence to kill". The law was approved by lawmakers in July and needs to be put to the vote in the upper house.

The proposition, a longstanding demand of the far-right, would mean that officers who killed someone by shooting would be presumed to have acted within the limits of the law, unless there was proof to the contrary.

There have been protests in big cities every Saturday since mid-October, building on a student blockade that began in September.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 14, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

1. EFFIGY OF MARIANNE, THE SYMBOL OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIQUE, WITH BANNER THAT READS (French) “THE YOUTH MUST BE LISTENED TO, RESPECTED, FINANCED, (NOT) MUTILATED, STIGMATISED (WORDS CROSSED OUT) 'SCREW' BOLLORE (MAJOR FRENCH CONGLOMERATE)”

2. PROTESTERS CLAPPING AS THEY CHANT ANTI-FASCISM SLOGAN

3. PROTESTERS AROUND EFFIGY

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) RETIRED TEACHER AND CGT UNION MEMBER, ANDRE (REFUSED TO GIVE LAST NAME), 65 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

“The minimum wage (SMIC) will be €1,505 net. But when you look at the cost of rent, heating, transport, food—everything you need to live—for a single person maybe, but for a family with a single income, it’s not enough. You would need at least €2,000 a month to be able to live decently in France.”

5. VARIOUS OF GIANT PAPIER MACHE HORSE MOVING AMONGST PROTESTERS

6. VARIOUS OF STUDENT PROTESTERS CHANTING AS THEY MARCH, WITH STUDENT UNION FLAGS AND BANNERS

7. PROTESTERS WITH FRENCH FLAG ON STATUE ON PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE

8. FATHER AND DAUGHTER, JULIEN AND MARILOUS JANUS, WITH PLACARDS THAT READ (French) “PARTY OF THE YOUTH” AND “GOLDEN YOUTH, JUNK FUTURE”

9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) STUDENT FROM PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL SAINT CATHERINE LABORE IN PARIS, MARILOU JANUS, 16 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

“What we want for suburban schools, and those that are in a state of disrepair - we demand renovations and competent teachers— competent ones, most especially, because sometimes the teachers we’re sent aren’t really. And I hope that those who are the most disadvantaged will be able to have a bright future, thanks to these demonstrations.”

10. MARILOU JANUS HOLDING PLACARD READING (French) “GOLDEN YOUTH, JUNK FUTURE”

11. PLACARD READING (French) “PARTY OF THE YOUTH”

(SOUNDBITE) (French) FATHER OF TWO AND TEACHER AT PLUMBING AND HEATING APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN VITRY-SUR-SEINE, JULIEN JANUS, SAYING:

“At its core, the French university system was about knowledge for everyone—regardless of your age or who you might be. Today, we see that a great many degrees, unfortunately, no longer lead to professional opportunities. So, what was their (government’s) response? They chose to limit the number of people who can enter the university. Actually, what would the real solution be? It would be to ensure that degrees lead to a future. That would be a meaningful response.”

12. YOUNG PROTESTERS HOLDING UP BANNER THAT READS (French): “THEY RESISTED, WE WILL RESIST”

13. PROTESTERS WITH PLACARDS (French): “I FEEL PAIN FOR FRANCE” AND “MORE CNRS (RESEARCH CENTRES), LESS CRS (RIOT POLICE)”

14. PROTESTERS PLAYING INSTRUMENTS AND DANCING

15. PROTESTERS APPLAUDING

16. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH BANNER WITH SLOGAN AGAINST PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW POLICE TO USE ARMS IN SELF-DEFENCE

17. DERMATOLOGISTS IN DOCTOR’S COAT, STANDING WITH PLACARD THAT READS (French) “BEFORE RE-ARMING THE DEMOGRAPHY, DISARM THE POLICE”

18. SLOGAN ON HAND (French) 'DON'T TOUCH MY KID' SIGN ON DERMATOLOGIST LAURENCE RIFFAUD’S COAT, AND BEAR STUFFED TOY IN POCKET

19. PLACARD THAT READS (French) “BEFORE RE-ARMING THE DEMOGRAPHY, DISARM THE POLICE”

20. (SOUNDBITE) (French) DERMATOLOGIST, LAURENCE RIFFAUD, 40 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

“I am worried about democracy, about the youth, and about the future of the country, about the fact that many young people have been imprisoned in a manner that is absolutely illegal and scandalous. The future they have been promised is very complicated. The budget allocated per student has been cut by 20%, which is scandelous. Their anger is legitimate. And also, I believe it is absolutely essential to de-escalate the violence. To me, it’s important to be here today. And about the protection of children—this is also a demonstration for the children. I believe that a society that fails to protect its children is a society that is sick.”

21. CHARITY WORKER, JESSE, AND FELLOW PROTESTER, WITH PLACARDS READING (French and English) 'Free hugs'

22. PLACARD READING (French): 'Racists are people who have mistaken anger'

23. PLACARD READING (French and English); "Free hugs"

24. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHARITY WORKER, JESSE (DID NOT GIVE LAST NAME), 40, SAYING:

“I believe the Fifth Republic (of France) no longer functions today; it’s time to change our model of society. It is time to put the brakes on capitalism. It is time to take care of this planet—our only planet, and the only viable one.”

23. PROTESTERS AT BASTILLE SQUARE, WITH PLACARD THAT READS (French): “FREEDOM GUIDES THE PEOPLE”

24. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHARITY WORKER, JESSE (REFUSED TO GIVE LAST NAME), 40, SAYING:

“I hope this movement will have an impact on the final vote and the outcome of these (presidential) elections, six months from now. I hope it will tip the scales in favour of the Left—since, as you might have guessed, I am on the left – and not in favour of the Right.”

25. VARIOUS TOP VIEWS OF PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING NEAR BASTILLE SQUARE