Second weekend of French protests unfolds without serious incidents: 'The right to protest is just as important as the right to vote'

Despite permits and routes often being decided at the last minute, nearly 410,000 people – 800,000 according to the CGT trade union – marched peacefully on Saturday across France, protesting the high cost of living, supporting high school students and defending civil liberties. Clashes broke out in Nantes, Rennes and Marseille at the end of the day, but they were nowhere near the scale of the events of October 17.