World · Europe · 6 hrs ago
Police use tear gas after clashes at Paris protest
A protest against declining purchasing power took place in Paris on Saturday, October 31, as part of demonstrations across France.
Authorities moved the Paris march away from the city center, and the Conseil d'Etat upheld a ban on the planned route between Bastille and Nation.
The authorized route ran from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton in eastern Paris.
The march was mostly calm, but some protesters threw stones and bottles at police as it ended near Porte de Charenton.
Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
France's government estimated that 320,000 people joined demonstrations nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris; the Paris figure was lower than the previous Saturday's 110,000.
The protests followed larger rallies on October 17 and 24, which involved clashes and reports of damage and looting, while authorities sought to limit the risk of further disorder.
Police used tear gas and stun grenades after clashes at a protest against declining purchasing power in Paris on October 31.
The clashes began as the march reached its endpoint near Porte de Charenton on the eastern outskirts of the city.
A TASS correspondent reported that radical protesters threw stones and bottles at police.
Authorities had restricted demonstrations in central Paris, and the Conseil d'Etat upheld a ban on a planned route between Bastille and Nation.
The French government estimated that 320,000 people joined demonstrations nationwide, including 70,000 in Paris.
- Who
- Protesters and police clashed in Paris.
- What
- Police used tear gas and stun grenades after protesters threw stones and bottles.
- When
- October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Near Porte de Charenton, on the eastern outskirts of Paris.
- Why
- The protest was against declining purchasing power; the clashes began as the march was ending.
CGT and protest organizers
French authorities
Demonstration route
CGT and protest organizers
The CGT called for a march between Bastille and Nation, and an administrative court initially overturned the ban on that route.
French authorities
Authorities sought to keep marches out of city centers; the Conseil d'Etat upheld the ban and an outskirts route was authorized.
Limits on demonstrations
CGT and protest organizers
Organizers argued that moving marches away from the center reduced their impact and raised concerns about freedom of assembly.
French authorities
Authorities cited the risk of disorder, damage and looting.
Large-scale protests in France saw clashes with police, vandalism and looting.
Another large-scale protest took place.
An administrative court lifted the ban on the CGT's planned Bastille-to-Nation route, and the police prefecture appealed.
The Conseil d'Etat upheld the ban, leaving an outskirts march authorized.
Clashes broke out near the end of the Paris march, and police used tear gas and stun grenades.
- Protest date
- October 31, 2026
- Paris march endpoint
- Porte de Charenton
- Authorized route
- Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton
- Nationwide turnout estimate
- 320,000 people
- Paris turnout estimate
- 70,000 people
5 sources
What people are saying
We never call on people to take prohibited routes. So, under duress, with a heavy heart, we are calling on people to follow the authorized route
very high risk of public disorder