France Faces Nationwide Cost-of-Living Protests Ahead of Elections

• Nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living are expected in France on Saturday.
• The demonstrations follow weeks of student protests and could merge with the presidential election period.
• French President Emmanuel Macron has warned EU leaders to agree on the bloc's next long-term budget before year-end.
• The potential merging of protests with the election period poses a challenge to the government.
• The situation presents an opportunity for far-left and far-right presidential candidates.