Protesters across France took to the streets on Saturday over rising living costs, joining high school students who have been demonstrating for better education conditions amid more than three weeks of school blockades.

The latest mobilisation followed social media calls to revive the Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 to protest social injustice. Student groups involved in demonstrations since mid-September have urged others to join the protests.

The CGT, one of France’s major labour unions, also backed the demonstrations, demanding higher wages and pensions, lower prices and the protection of public services that meet people’s needs.

President Emmanuel Macron called for calm and respect for people and property on Friday as officials warned of possible violence.

“There is a constitutional right to protest and to express oneself, and I have always been vigilant and attentive that that right is fully respected,” Macron said in Brussels.

However, he stressed that the right to protest must be exercised with respect for people and property, and without insults or destruction. He described the potential presence of people intent solely on causing damage and unrest as “unacceptable”.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said hundreds of protest actions and more than 80 marches were expected nationwide, including spontaneous gatherings, street demonstrations and blockades.

In Paris, a march was scheduled to begin in the early afternoon at Place de la République, northeast of the city centre.

Police banned some other planned gatherings in central Paris. Several Metro stations were also closed at police request, including stations near the Champs-Élysées, the presidential palace, parliament and government offices.

France has witnessed thousands of arrests, hundreds of injuries and arson attacks on schools in recent weeks as student protests spread nationwide following the start of the new school year. The demonstrations have also influenced the country's presidential election campaign and attracted international attention.

Some teenagers have suffered severe injuries allegedly caused by police crowd-control weapons. Nuñez suspended the use of a particular type of police stun grenade against young demonstrators after a 15-year-old lost a hand.

On Tuesday, climate and social justice activist Greta Thunberg joined students at a high school in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris.