Protests against rising cost of living and in support of strikers bring together more than 100 people in Paris.

RFI - Around 140.000 people, according to organizers, took part this Sunday (16) in Paris in the "march against the high cost of living and climate inaction" organized by the left-wing alliance of the French Parliament, Nupes. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Annie Ernaux, participated in the demonstration alongside leaders of the French left.

"We've already achieved what we wanted. This is just the beginning," said Aurélie Trouvé, a member of parliament for La France Insoumise and leader of the march. Shortly before, the leader of the left-wing Nupes party and coalition, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, had spoken of "a huge success." Police expected around 30.000 demonstrators.

For Christopher Savidan, 47, unemployed for five years and a supporter of La France Insoumise, "it's time to wake up." "The people at the top are out of touch [with the people]. We pay taxes, we don't know why, everything is going downhill. Logically, all struggles should converge," he stated.

"The message is simple: we want a better distribution of wealth," said Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party (PS), during this "meeting," addressing the demonstrators and making a V-for-victory sign.

Amidst the flags, the entire French left was represented, from the deputies of La France Insoumise, Manuel Bompard and Clémentine Autain, to the ecologists Sandrine Rousseau and Eric Piolle, including Philippe Poutou. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, with his red tie and tricolor rooster on his lapel, arrived alongside Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux.

Many "yellow vests," but also many retirees, were visible in a colorful march punctuated by songs, and even the Star Wars soundtrack.

"Elected representatives must put themselves at the service of those who are hungry," pleads Jerome Rodrigues, an emblematic figure of the "yellow vests." The procession advanced from the Place de Nation to the Bastille in the French capital.

Some tear gas canisters were thrown by police to the sides of the parade in the mid-afternoon, after projectiles were launched in their direction, an AFP journalist observed. Police made several arrests. A branch of the Société Générale bank was also looted by masked men dressed in black, near the city center.

Police had "real fears" about "the arrival of violent people like the blocs, the ultra-yellow vests who would like to disrupt the demonstration," according to security agents.

"Long live the social wave, the people are thirsty for justice," read a sign near Nation Square. Another warned: "Retirement is good, the offensive is better."

 "The struggles are piling up."

"It's good that we have a strong popular force against this government's abusive social and environmental policies," said Mathilde Panot, the leader of the La France Insoumise party. 

The demonstration was called by left-wing parties - France Unbowed, supported by the Greens, Socialists and Communists - and backed by hundreds of associations seeking to maintain the tension created by the TotalEnergies refinery strike.

The French energy giant announced on Friday a wage increase agreement (7% plus bonus) with the two largest unions representing staff at its four refineries in France. But the CGT union, known for its combative nature, refused to accept it, demanding a 10% increase, and its members continue to hold picket lines.

"You can see that this movement is starting to spread," said MP Mathilde Panot to France Info radio: "You can see it in the nuclear sector. Truck drivers announced a strike on Tuesday and many other sectors are starting to participate," she added.

Several French unions have announced their support for a national day of strike action on Tuesday, which is expected to affect road and rail transport and the public sector.