French unions called a nationwide strike and demonstrations for Thursday, Nov. 5, bringing public- and private-sector workers together with students to protest living costs and conditions in public services and education [reuters.com][rfi.fr]. France’s domestic intelligence service forecast 500,000 to 700,000 demonstrators outside Paris, while the inter-union coalition expected 40,000 to 80,000 in the capital. Authorities planned to deploy about 70,000 police nationwide [france24.com][reuters.com]. Students have protested school conditions and prospects for young people for weeks, while unions have linked those concerns to wages and the cost of living [reuters.com][theguardian.com]. Riots and looting on Oct. 17 damaged shops and public buildings, prompting criticism of President Emmanuel Macron’s government’s response [reuters.com][straitstimes.com]. The action is expected to disrupt rail services, schools and other public services. France’s next presidential election is five months away [theguardian.com][reuters.com]. Parliamentary talks over next year’s budget, which includes spending cuts, remain deadlocked [business-standard.com][bloomberg.com]. Highlights: • Wage demands: The CGT union is seeking a 10% increase in the statutory minimum wage to slightly more than €2,000 gross a month, along with broader pay rises [tagesschau.de][aawsat.com]. • Transport disruption: France’s rail operator SNCF forecast disruptions to regional and Île-de-France services and some high-speed train delays. Paris transit operator RATP closed at least 25 metro stations, while dockworkers also called a strike [rfi.fr][business-standard.com]. • Budget pressure: France’s budget deficit is projected at 5.4% of economic output this year, against a government target of 5% in 2027. The France-Germany 10-year bond yield spread reached 178 basis points last month, up from 85 in early September [business-standard.com]. • Demonstration rights: The Paris administrative court rejected unions’ appeal over a revised march route, while the Human Rights League, Magistrates’ Union and French Lawyers’ Union denounced restrictions and filed a complaint at the country’s top court [france24.com][tagesschau.de]. • School strain: Students cite overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and deteriorating school buildings; the Education Ministry expected nearly 18% of nursery and primary teachers to strike [business-standard.com][theguardian.com]. Perspectives: CGT union: Secretary General Sophie Binet argued that wage increases would boost domestic consumption and said the government’s budget proposals needed revision [tagesschau.de]. (Tagesschau) French government: Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said authorities were on high alert and would not allow a repeat of the Oct. 17 violence; the government has defended police tactics while saying alleged abuses would be investigated [reuters.com][aaj.tv]. (Reuters) CFDT union: Secretary General Marylise Léon argued that a demonstration must remain visible and criticized authorities’ decisions to move marches away from city centers [theguardian.com]. (The Guardian) "We’re living at a very serious time with a very dangerous authoritarian drift from the government" — Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union Sources: • France braces for fresh protests in test for Macron's policies - france24.com • First, France Had Riots and Protests. Now It’s Bracing for a General Strike. - nytimes.com • Live: France braces for nationwide strikes in fresh test for Macron’s policies - france24.com • Protesters to join nationwide march as France braces for day of strike action - theguardian.com • France braces itself for fresh protests as Macron seeks to prevent repeat of October unrest - straitstimes.com • Build committees of action! After the November 5 French strike, prepare a European general strike against war and dictatorship! - wsws.org • Investigation Law enforcement: A month of serious injuries at protests - lemonde.fr • Can the current French protests really be compared with May 68? - lemonde.fr • France braces for fresh protests as Macron faces mounting pressure - aaj.tv • France braces for mass protests, public sector strike; government vows to prevent repeat of October riots - i24news.tv • France braces for mass protests and nationwide strikes - cyprus-mail.com • Fresh protests expected in France as Macron seeks to avoid repeat of mass civil unrest - jpost.com • France braces for fresh protests as Macron seeks to prevent repeat of October unrest - reuters.com • France Braces for Demonstrations as Trade Unions Strike - aawsat.com • France faces fresh wave of protests amid deepening budget deadlock - business-standard.com • France faces nationwide general strike as protests intensify ahead of election - swedenherald.com • Франција се подготвува за масовни протести, Макрон стравува од повторување на немирите - makfax.com.mk • France Braces for Marches and Strikes Amid Stalled Budget - bloomberg.com • Frankreich: Nach den Protesten sollen jetzt Streiks folgen - tagesschau.de • French unions join forces for nationwide strike as protests intensify - rfi.fr • Francuska opet prosvjeduje. Macron strahuje od novih nereda - index.hr • France Faces Fresh Protest Wave With Budget Impasse Deepening - bloomberg.com • Neuer Protesttag in Frankreich - kleinezeitung.at • Frankrijk zet zich opnieuw schrap voor massale protesten: 70.000 agenten op de been - tubantia.nl --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News