70,000 Officers Deployed as French Protests Hit Second Week
Authorities increased security by 20 percent to prevent a repeat of last weekend's riots, which saw over 2,000 arrests and widespread damage to businesses.
By Owen Turner ·
More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes are deployed across France on Saturday to secure a second wave of nationwide demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that this force is 20 percent larger than the number on duty during the previous weekend. The increase is a direct response to the unrest of October 17, when largely peaceful protests turned violent, resulting in the arrest of over 2,000 people and damage to thousands of businesses.
The current marches target deteriorating school infrastructure and high living costs. In Paris, thousands of protesters moved from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes along the Boulevards des Marechaux. Local authorities restricted the route to this southeastern corridor after banning a previously negotiated path between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. The move angered participants, with one protester, Emma, describing it as a tactic to drain the movement's energy. Another, Monica, a retired educator, said the restriction made the movement appear invisible.
Security preparations in the capital were extensive. At least 24 metro stations closed at the police prefecture's request, and the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay shut their doors for the day. Many businesses in central Paris boarded up windows and hired private security. The elite RAID unit supported broader police operations rather than managing crowds directly, a shift from the previous weekend's tactics.
By early Saturday afternoon, officials reported the situation remained calm. Police arrested at least 135 people nationwide and seized various weapons. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. Protests were banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice, while a union march in Marseille proceeded under strict conditions.
The unrest originated in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools over dilapidated buildings and teacher shortages. President Emmanuel Macron met with student representatives for the first time on Friday, promising more teachers and a major overhaul of the university admission system known as Parcoursup. Students maintained they would continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions.
The political stakes are high as France approaches a presidential election in 2027. Macron is barred from a third consecutive term. Marine Le Pen leads recent polls and held a party congress in Orleans on Saturday, where thousands of anti-fascist protesters gathered outside the venue. Authorities expected 20,000 to 30,000 people to join that counter-demonstration. The Yellow Vest movement has also announced a separate protest for October 31.
Source: Al Jazeera
