Buildings and cars set on fire as cost of living protests rock France

Students protesting crumbling school conditions in France escalated into widespread demonstrations involving tens of thousands across the country by October 17, 2026. Initial protests began last month over teacher absences and poor facilities in schools but quickly expanded to include broader grievances about rising living costs and social inequality. Protests involved 8,000 arrests, with more than 160,000 taking part on a single day earlier this month. The unrest has drawn sharp criticism of the police's handling of demonstrations, including use of tear gas and water cannons, leading to clashes in Paris where cars and buildings were set on fire. President Emmanuel Macron warned that political opportunism was fueling the violence, while opposition figures blamed his policies for exacerbating social tensions.