Paris: Police and protesters clashed in Paris and several French cities on Saturday, sending plumes of smoke and tear gas over nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs ahead of the upcoming presidential election to replace Emmanuel Macron.

In Lyon, masked youths set a tourism office ablaze as riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. Protesters in Marseille broke into the town hall, overturning a bust and damaging furniture before being removed by law enforcement, prompting the mayor to request reinforcements. In Lille, demonstrators forced their way into the mayor's office and vandalised the premises.

In Paris, tens of thousands marched through the city's eastern and northern districts, with some chanting anti-government slogans.

"For years we've had climate, economy and equality problems but the government is not doing anything about it," said Agnes, a 50-year-old actor who did not give her surname.

Kamil Alahyan, an 18-year-old high school student, said he marched "for so many reasons -- the elections coming up in 2027, politicians who lie, the ultra-rich who've been taking more and more wealth over the past 10 years".

The protests caused widespread disruptions in the capital. Windows at the offices of media outlets CNews and Europe 1 were smashed, parked vehicles were set on fire, and police reported making over 130 arrests after confronting masked crowds who launched fireworks. Authorities had previously prohibited gatherings near government buildings, train stations, and the Champs-Élysées.

Organised under a "yellow and youth" coalition echoing the original Yellow Vest movement, the demonstrations spanned more than 600 locations nationwide. Participants expressed frustration over rising inflation—exacerbated by ongoing conflict in the Middle East—and alleged police misconduct during student protests over the past month.

Political figures across the spectrum weighed in on the unrest. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen criticised the violent incidents, writing on X: "Looting, pillaging, attacking police -- rioters have once again sullied the October 17 demonstrations over the cost of living." She added that the core demands had been "hijacked by the far left".

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon countered that "everything is passing off peacefully" in the majority of locations, accusing television networks of "flooding us with images of violence in dozens of cities".

Addressing the situation on Friday, President Macron called for "respect for people and property".

Historical symbolism was visible during several marches. In Marseille, individuals shouted, "It's the Revolution -- we're taking the Bastille!" as they entered municipal offices. Elsewhere, marchers in La Rochelle carried a banner reading "Revolution or death," while a banner declaring "The people will win" was displayed in Montpellier.

"The government is trembling and it's right to tremble because when the French people are angry, they never let up," said Ryad Rani, head of the LSU high school student representative body.

A recent survey of 2,000 respondents indicated that purchasing power and inflation remain major concerns for approximately 45 percent of the population.

"At the end of the month, I have nothing left. Prices are going up but wages aren't," said Franck, a civil servant who joined roughly 300 demonstrators in Guéret. "We can't take it anymore, we're suffocating."

France, the second-largest economy in the eurozone, continues to face fiscal challenges, with public debt projected to exceed 120 percent of GDP next year amid broader economic pressures. (AFP)