Three weeks into a refinery strike that caused fuel shortages across France, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Paris, adding to the mounting defiance and fury over inflation.

Sunday's protest against the rising cost of living was organized by the political opposition and led by Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the France Unbowed party.

It was a display of rage against the sting of rising prices and an effort to increase the pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's administration.

It was labeled a "march against the high cost of living and climate inaction" by its organizers.

In addition to demanding enormous investment against the climate problem, they sought immediate measures against high prices, including freezes on the costs of electricity, vital products, and rent, as well as heavier taxation of businesses' windfall profits.

Some demonstrators wore fluorescent yellow vests, the symbol of 2018's frequently violent anti-government demonstrations that rattled Macron's pro-business center-left government.

Opponents of Macron hope to capitalize on the enthusiasm generated by the beginning of the refinery crisis at the end of September.

Transport strikes scheduled for Tuesday threaten to coincide with wage strikes that have already crippled fuel refineries and depots, resulting in chronic gasoline shortages that are fraying the nerves of millions of workers and other motorists who rely on their vehicles, as long lines form at gas stations.

Melenchon, perched atop a truck in the heart of the crowd, remarked, "This is going to be a week that we don't see very often." "Everything is falling into place. We are beginning with this march, which has been a tremendous success."

According to the organizers, 140,000 people attended the rally on Sunday. The police previously estimated that approximately 30,000 individuals would attend.

‘Riled up and tired’

French novelist Annie Ernaux, this year's Nobel laureate in literature, demonstrated with Melenchon. Melenchon stated that Macron's leadership is causing "chaos" in France.

In June's legislative elections, the government of Macron lost its majority in the French parliament. This makes it much more difficult for his centrist alliance to achieve his domestic program in the face of strengthened opponents, and legislative discussion of the government's budget plan for the following year is proving especially challenging.

Several French unions, but not all, have called for a national day of strikes on Tuesday, which is expected to impair road transportation, trains, and public services.

The administration is closely monitoring the strikes and protests as it seeks to implement a very contentious pensions system reform in the coming months.

Macron, who was re-elected in April, has vowed to raise the retirement age from 62, with the reform slated for the end of winter.

Under the condition of anonymity, a member of the ruling party remarked, "I'm extremely concerned." "We must find a balance between the need for reforms and the fact that the public is agitated and exhausted."

‘Unacceptable’

Four of France's seven refineries remained closed on Sunday, all of which belonged to the Paris-based energy company TotalEnergies.

The French firm declared on Friday that it had achieved a salary agreement with the two major unions representing its refinery employees, raising expectations that the impasse would soon come to an end. However, the extremist CGT union has refused to accept the offer, and its members continue to maintain picket lines.

Sunday's continuance of the strike was deemed "unacceptable" by Budget Minister Gabriel Attal, while business lobby organization Medef stated that "150 people" were "holding the country hostage."

Attal told French media, "There is a right to strike, but at some point, the country must be able to function."

Staff at two additional refineries operated by Esso-ExxonMobil returned to work at the end of last week, but it will take at least two weeks for operations to return to normal, according to the firm.

Approximately one-third of gas stations across the nation have supply issues, causing drivers to frequently wait hours to refuel.

Numerous businesses have reduced travel and delivery, and even emergency service vehicles are in short supply.

The enormous profits gained by energy companies on the back of record gasoline prices have prompted some sympathy for workers seeking wage increases. However, according to a study conducted by the BVA polling group and released on Friday, only 37 percent of respondents backed the stoppages.

Sunday's protest march through Paris was organized by the party of Jean-Luc Melenchon and supported by its coalition partners, the Greens, Socialists, and Communists.