Protests in France began among school students before spreading to university students and workers, echoing the Gilets Jaunes movement over living costs and purchasing power. The Interior Ministry estimated about 550,000 participants nationwide on October 17, while organisers put the figure at 800,000. The backdrop includes 3.1% annual inflation in September 2026, 8.3% unemployment in Q2, growth forecast at just 0.4% for 2026, public debt around 119% of GDP, and a budget deficit of 5.1% of GDP in 2025. Tear gas and crowd-control projectiles have raised concerns, with 1,949 arrests or detentions reported on October 1 and a 15-year-old in Lens reportedly losing a hand after a police grenade exploded on October 5. Critics argue the Macron government has not offered convincing solutions, and that repression of peaceful protesters risks diverting attention from the policies fuelling public anger.
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EUR/USD
▼ Likely negativeRelevance: low
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/20/2026 | 1.12376 |
| Change that session | +0.22% |
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