French authorities are bracing for a major day of nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, deploying 70,000 police officers to maintain order following severe unrest across the country a week earlier. The security surge comes after opposition politicians accused the government of underestimating the intensity of protests that occurred on 17 October.
Authorities have introduced significant restrictions on public gatherings across multiple regions. Major cities such as Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier implemented complete bans on demonstrations, while officials in Paris ordered a student union march to follow a route that avoids the capital’s center. In contrast, local authorities in Marseille reversed an initial ban to permit a trade union-led rally to proceed.
Despite official curbs, hundreds of demonstrations organized by student groups, trade unions, and members of the revived gilets jaunes movement are anticipated. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that security forces would strictly enforce the law against looters and violent actors, pointing to online calls for agitation originating from radical groups. Extensive preventive measures have been taken in Paris, where prominent cultural sites including the Louvre, Orsay, and Picasso museums will remain closed on Saturday, while commercial venues have boarded up shopfronts.
Legal Actions and Political Tensions
The planned demonstrations follow swift judicial responses to the previous week’s rioting, which resulted in widespread looting, property damage, and arson. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that more than 1,100 individuals have appeared in court and 232 people have been imprisoned for their roles in the violence, with prosecutors seeking strict penalties including social media and rally bans.
President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with student representatives on Friday. While student leaders noted that Macron made commitments during the meeting, they maintained that student groups should continue to mobilize. Meanwhile, political figures from both the hard-right National Rally and the left-wing La France Insoumise have criticized the administration’s handling of the crisis, adding to political friction ahead of upcoming presidential elections.
Source: BBC News
