France Mobilizes 70,000 Officers for Second Wave of Mass Protests

More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed across France on Saturday as a second wave of mass demonstrations began. The massive security effort was designed to manage public order following the country's most violent riots in years, which occurred just one week earlier. While the Paris march proceeded peacefully, the sheer scale of the deployment signaled the government's determination to avoid a recurrence of the chaos seen last weekend.

The demonstrations targeted deteriorating conditions in schools and the rising cost of living. The main march in Paris started at Porte d'Italie and concluded at Porte de Vincennes, following a route along the Boulevards des Marechaux. Local authorities designated this southeastern path as the only permitted itinerary after banning an originally negotiated central route between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Additionally, protests organized by non-union groups were prohibited, a last-minute change that frustrated many participants.

Protesters expressed anger over the restricted route, viewing it as an attempt to minimize the movement's visibility. Emma, a podcaster, described the decision as a tactic to drain the energy from the demonstration. Monica, a retired public education worker, agreed that authorities appeared to want to make the movement invisible. Neither provided a last name. The crowd included students, teachers, ecologists, nurses, and union representatives who chanted slogans such as "Too many billionaires; We are preparing the revolution" and "We are all anti-fascists," with some calling for President Emmanuel Macron to resign.

Preparations in central Paris were extensive, with many businesses shuttering and shop windows covered by protective panels. At least 24 metro stations closed at the request of the police prefecture, and major cultural venues like the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay suspended operations for the day. Art Basel Paris also cancelled its weekend programme. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that 20 percent more officers were on duty compared to the previous weekend, with the elite RAID unit supporting other operations rather than directly handling crowds.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide and the seizure of various weapons, acknowledging the situation remained calm. In other cities, protests were banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. A union march in Marseille was authorized under strict conditions, while police in Lyon fired tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. The Yellow Vest movement announced plans for its own protest on October 31.

The unrest originated in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools over dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, and the university admission system. President Macron met with student representatives for the first time on Friday, promising more teachers and a deep overhaul of the Parcoursup admission system. Students stated they would continue mobilizing until concrete actions are presented. More than half a million people had taken to the streets on October 17, a day marked by widespread looting and over 2,000 custodies.

This turmoil occurs roughly six months before a pivotal presidential election, with Macron barred from a third term and set to leave office in 2027. Marine Le Pen, who leads recent polls by a wide margin while campaigning on law and order, held a party congress in Orleans. Thousands shouted anti-fascist slogans there, and authorities expected 20,000 to 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration.