France prepares for nationwide protests amid high security
France deploys 70,000 police officers ahead of a second weekend of nationwide protests following severe unrest, with strict bans imposed across major cities.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- France braces for a second wave of nationwide protests on Saturday following severe unrest last week.
- The interior ministry has deployed 70,000 police officers across French cities to maintain security.
- President Emmanuel Macron decreed that only union-approved demonstrations are permitted.
- Major cultural sites including the Louvre and Orsay museums will remain closed on Saturday.
France is on high alert as the country prepares for another wave of nationwide protests on Saturday, coming exactly one week after experiencing some of its worst civil unrest in decades.
Despite sweeping restrictions imposed on demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of protesters are still expected to gather in Paris and other major urban centers for a second round of rallies organized by student bodies, trade unions, and anti-government groups.
The interior ministry announced it will deploy 70,000 police officers to boost security across French cities, responding to opposition criticism that the government failed to anticipate the scale of the violence on October 17.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"We will not let anything go unchallenged"
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez
Under presidential decrees issued earlier in the week, only demonstrations organized by recognized trade unions are permitted to take place on Saturday. Several key cities, including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier, have implemented blanket bans on all public gatherings.
Official announcements, however, have done little to deter organizers, with hundreds of large and small demonstrations slated to occur throughout the country.
The current socio-political climate in France reflects deep-seated public frustrations that extend beyond immediate policy disputes. With rising living costs, escalating national debt, and a fractured political landscape, these protests highlight the vulnerability of the centrist government as the country approaches a highly unpredictable presidential election cycle.
In Paris, student union-led marches have been ordered to avoid the city center. Cultural landmarks such as the Louvre, Orsay, and Picasso museums will close their doors on Saturday, while a scheduled Paris Saint-Germain football match has been postponed to Monday. Local businesses have also boarded up their windows in anticipation of potential looting.
Meanwhile, the revived gilets jaunes (yellow-vest) movement has expanded the student-led protests into a broader anti-government outcry. A website linked to the group listed over 500 planned demonstrations and demanded Macron's resignation.
According to the justice ministry, 232 individuals have been imprisoned following fast-track court hearings related to the October 17 riots, with over 1,100 people appearing in court and approximately 260 cases involving organized gang charges.
Source: BBC World
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