Far-left groups from seven countries, including the UK, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Belgium, met in Paris to coordinate their efforts and plan Europe-wide protests.
What happened
The groups called for coordinated demonstrations across Europe from November 20 to November 22, demanding a guaranteed right to housing, healthcare for all, and taxes on the rich to combat social inequality.
In France, a nationwide strike is planned for November 5, with labor unions, students, and 'Yellow Vests' participating, to demand changes in wages, pensions, and the cost of living. The strike may cause disruptions in railways, schools, hospitals, and other public services.
Meanwhile, student protests have been ongoing in France since September, with demands to abolish the university admissions system, Parcoursup. The Education Ministry reported that 48 high schools were blocked out of roughly 3,700 nationwide, with disruptions mainly in the Paris region and other major cities.
The French government has warned that the school year is at risk for hundreds of thousands of students preparing for the baccalaureate, and that blocking high schools is illegal. However, student unions continue to demand changes, citing social and economic inequalities.
