New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- Nationwide demonstrations continued across France on Thursday (local time), drawing roughly 575,000 protesters, according to government estimates, in the largest turnout recorded since the protests began in September.

The protests were largely peaceful, despite some clashes with police in major cities like Paris and Lyon, as some public sector workers staged a one-day strike in a renewed challenge to President Emmanuel Macron, Reuters reported.

While the Interior Ministry said 575,000 people attended the protests, the CGT union, one of the organisers, put the figure at 1.6 million.

According to CNN, the demonstrations have expanded beyond students demanding better conditions in schools, drawing participation from t...