France assigns 70,000 officers for October 24

Unrest in France escalated this week as the government prepared for a second round of nationwide demonstrations. Authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to secure streets and public spaces. This increase represented a 20 percent rise in staffing compared to the previous weekend, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

The Paris demonstration started at Porte d'Italie and ended at Porte de Vincennes along the Boulevards des Marechaux. Local officials designated this southeastern route as the only permitted path after banning a previously negotiated central itinerary between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. They also prohibited protests organized by groups outside the union structure.

Participants criticized the sudden change in plans. Emma, a protester and podcaster, described the route selection as a tactic to drain the movement's energy. Monica, a retired public education worker, stated the move made the movement seem invisible. Both women declined to provide their last names.

Marchers in Paris included students, teachers, nurses, ecologists, and union representatives. Some groups chanted for President Emmanuel Macron to resign. One crowd shouted, "Too many billionaires; We are preparing the revolution." Another group chanted, "We are all anti-fascists."

Businesses in central Paris closed early and covered shop windows with protective panels. Retailers hired private security guards for the day. Police requested the closure of at least 24 metro stations. Major cultural institutions, including the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay, closed their doors. Art Basel Paris also cancelled its weekend program.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported arresting at least 135 people nationwide. Officers seized various weapons during the protests. The situation remained calm despite the large turnout. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. Protests in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice were banned.

The current unrest followed the October 17 riots, which saw widespread looting and clashes. Official figures indicated that thousands of businesses were damaged and more than 2,000 people were taken into custody that day. The initial protests began in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools over dilapidated buildings and teacher shortages. President Macron met with student representatives on Friday and promised a deep overhaul of the Parcoursup university admission system.

The political stakes are high as the presidential election approaches in 2027. President Macron is barred from running for a third term. Marine Le Pen leads recent polls by a wide margin. Her National Rally held a party congress in Orleans on Saturday, where thousands of anti-fascist protesters gathered to oppose the start of her campaign.