France Stages 70,000-Strong Police Shield for Saturday's Protest Surge

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has ordered the deployment of up to 70,000 police officers across France for Saturday demonstrations. The security operation includes helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to manage a new wave of civil unrest. This mobilization follows a previous weekend of protests that resulted in widespread looting and the burning of vehicles.

Protesters are marching primarily over school funding deficits and the rising cost of living. Student groups have articulated a specific 10-point plan that demands 250,000 additional places in higher education. The plan also calls for the abolition of the Parcoursup admissions selection system. Other financial demands include an increase in student grants by 200 euros monthly and a rent freeze for public student housing. Trade unions have joined the movement, seeking higher wages and pension improvements to assist households with living expenses.

Paris authorities altered the planned route for the capital's march on Friday. The procession is now restricted to the city's southeastern edge, specifically between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This change deviates from the originally planned path running from Bastille to Nation. Police stationed a small number of gendarmes beneath the Arc de Triomphe and along nearby avenues in central Paris. Organizers expect a crowd comparable in size to last week's turnout, which exceeded 500,000 participants.

Businesses and cultural institutions have adjusted their operations to mitigate risks. Major venues including the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Picasso Museum, and the Grand Palais are closed on Saturday. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a significant Cézanne exhibition. Art Basel opened to the public for a single day on Friday before organizers cancelled its weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Shopkeepers have spent the week barricading their storefronts to protect inventory and stock.

Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station on Friday. Ahmed stated that he received the call the previous night and that the owner believed the measures were necessary to save the business. Approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend. In Limoges, police placed two suspects under formal investigation for the fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall. The investigation includes charges of attempted murder of a public official.

Local authorities have banned marches in several cities, including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier. Marches are permitted in Paris and Marseille. French media reported that police used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning. Trade unions have criticized these bans, arguing they violate the constitutional protection of freedom of expression. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure initially urged shopkeepers to hire private security guards but later clarified that protecting businesses remains the government's responsibility.

President Emmanuel Macron faces this crisis during the final phase of his term in office. His popularity has reached its lowest level since he assumed the presidency in 2017. Macron stated that the security measures are required to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Orléans, located about 110 kilometers south of Paris, thousands of people gathered for an anti-far-right protest. This event occurred alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist party, which is preparing for the presidential election scheduled for next spring.