Demonstrations backing France’s students gather strength

PARIS: Tens of thousands of people joined rallies across France on Tuesday to support protesting high school students, boosting a movement that poses a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron as his term in office winds down.

Some 161,500 people turned out, according to the interior ministry — more than double the 71,500 it gave for the last nationwide demonstrations on Thursday last week.

Unions helping organise Tuesday’s rallies put the countrywide turnout at 480,000.