from al Mayadeen English
France will deploy 70,000 police officers and security forces on Thursday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced, promising “an extremely firm response” to any “acts of violence” or disorder as unions strike and students march in what authorities expect to be one of the country’s largest days of protest in years.
Authorities estimate that 500,000 to 700,000 people will take part nationwide, including as many as 80,000 in Paris. CFDT leader Marylise Léon predicted “a strong mobilization,” with a turnout comparable to the 2023 pension reform protests, which drew more than one million people.
Education unions in the public and private sectors have called for strikes, as have unions representing rail workers, public hospital staff and postal workers. The national rail operator SNCF warned of disruption on regional lines and parts of the greater Paris area, and dockers said ports would be affected.
The education ministry expects almost 18% of nursery and primary school teachers to strike, and unions say secondary teachers will join them...
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