{O/C} Thousands of protesters crammed into the streets of Paris today to express their disgust at exorbitant inflation and climate change.
But reckless anti-oil demonstrators in Britain took no prisoners when they vandalised one car showroom in London with paint.
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{Upsound 00:00 - 00:03}
Protesters converged on the streets of Paris to blare slogans in a fit of outrage over the country's relentless inflation.
Among those carrying banners on the streets were the leader of a hard-left party, Jean-Luc Melenchon and even Nobel Literature Prize laureate, Annie Ernaux.
Melenchon accused President Emmanuel Macron of thrusting the country into chaos.
Melenchon, twice crushed by Macron in presidential elections, called today's protest "an immense success."
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One protest leader said France under Macron's government was in tatters, and called for wage increases to dovetail with piercing inflation.
Transport workers also made their voices heard over chronic gasoline shortages as a result of Russia's Ukraine invasion, with snaking lines at gas stations.
Stil, a few skirmishes erupted with rioters setting garbage bins alight and smashing bank machines and shop windows, but riot police largely maintained order.
The massive financial burden that's choking French citizens prompted today's nationwide protests.
Organisers claimed over 140,000 protesters joined the march.
Demonstrators also demanded a more powerful response to the climate crisis and over-the-roof living costs.
But proving just how challenging stifling inflation is, Macron's centrist parliamentary alliance lost its majority in the June elections when it's supposed to be leading.
But experts believe Macron's ministers will scythe through parliament's lower house with the budget plan for next year, a contentious move that sparked raucous boos from the demonstrators.
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Meantime, "Just Stop Oil" protests in downtown London turned ugly when rioters began spraying the Aston Martin car showroom with orange paint.
This, after the British government trumpeted swift measures to clamp down on protests that could potentially jeopardise public safety or wreak serious disruption, infuriating anti-oil protesters.
But that's no excuse to retaliate, insinuated the British Home Secretary who put forward the plan.
{Soundbite}
SUELLA BRAVERMAN, British Home Secretary:
No, you can't just start a riot or glue yourself to the roads and get away with it.
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