Marseille rally turns tense as police fire tear gas
- Clashes erupted in Marseille after police dispersed protesters near Saint-Charles station.
- Officers used tear gas and batons against demonstrators at the end of an otherwise peaceful march.
- The rally marked the fourth consecutive weekend of nationwide protests over rising living costs.
Clashes broke out in the southern French city of Marseille on Saturday after police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse demonstrators near Saint-Charles railway station, bringing an otherwise peaceful march against the rising cost of living to a confrontational end.
The demonstration was part of the fourth consecutive weekend of nationwide protests, as growing economic discontent continues to draw people onto the streets across France, five months ahead of the country’s presidential election.
The march proceeded peacefully through central Marseille before tensions escalated near the city’s main railway station. Police then moved to disperse the remaining demonstrators, using tear gas and batons as protesters gathered in the area.
The latest demonstrations come amid mounting public concern over the cost of living, an issue increasingly prominent in the political debate ahead of the presidential election. With the vote approaching, economic pressures and household purchasing power are likely to remain central concerns for voters and political candidates.
The recurring demonstrations underscore the persistence of public discontent, with the fourth consecutive weekend of mobilizations signaling that frustration over rising living costs continues to drive protests across the country.
