Demonstrators take part in a protest by the New Ecologic and Social People鈥檚 Union (NUPES), a coalition of left and green parties, against soaring inflation and what they call a lack of government action to fight climate change, in Paris, France Oct. 16, 2022. (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)
PARIS 鈥� Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris on Sunday to protest against soaring prices as weeks of strikes for higher wages at oil refineries spurred demands for a general strike.
The leader of the hard-left party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), Jean-Luc Melenchon, marched alongside this year鈥檚 Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Annie Ernaux. He called a general strike for Tuesday.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to live a week like no other, we are the ones who started it with this march,鈥� he told the crowd.
Melenchon followed the footsteps of four unions 鈥� but not France鈥檚 biggest, the moderate CFDT 鈥� which have called for strikes and protests on Tuesday for wage increases.
The four unions also called the protests to help protect the right to strike, after the government ordered the requisitioning of some oil refinery workers, a move seen by unions as a violation of their constitutional rights.
The march followed a call by the parliamentary coalition, which hopes to turn the page on domestic violence accusations that have recently dogged senior members.
Budget Minister Gabriel Attal said the left-wing coalition was attempting to exploit the current situation, marked by ongoing strikes at French utility EDF鈥檚 nuclear plants and at French oil refineries.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 march is a march of supporters who want to block the country,鈥� he said on French radio station Europe 1.
RELATED STORIES
France expects wine production rebound but drought threatens
The unwitting winners of France鈥檚 drought: salt farmers
Temperatures rise as France tackles its worst drought on record