French Authorities Deploy 70,000 Police for Second Cost-of-Living Protest Weekend

Shoppers and visitors in major French cities faced disrupted routines on Saturday as authorities deployed 70,000 police officers to manage a second consecutive weekend of protests over the cost of living. The security presence included helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons, a level of deployment designed to prevent a repeat of the previous week's unrest, which involved more than half a million participants.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 135 people had been arrested by the time of his report. Police also seized a variety of items from demonstrators, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft guns. Nuñez stated that there had been no major incident in the country, despite the large turnout.

The protests began last month when high school students in the southeast of Paris demanded better conditions. The movement quickly expanded as workers and residents joined to demand relief from rising living costs. The unrest has now evolved into a recurring monthly event that directly impacts the service sector and retail trade in urban centers.

In Lyon, where demonstrations were officially banned, approximately 150 protesters near the city center attempted to block a road. Police used tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student speaking to Agence France-Presse described the police presence as highly mobile, noting that officers dispersed marches before they fully formed.

In Orléans, thousands of people marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party, where she is launching her presidential bid to succeed Emmanuel Macron. Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed 26,000 attended. The protest, called by about 50 groups including unions and student organizations, ended peacefully in the early afternoon. Marchers chanted slogans targeting both current and potential future leadership, demanding that Macron resign and Le Pen be imprisoned.

In Paris, authorities described the mood as calm at the Porte d’Italie, the site of the city’s only authorized march. Police moved the event from the Bastille to this more remote southeastern location at the last minute. Union representative Murielle Guilbert called the relocation scandalous, arguing that wages have not risen to the level they should be. A student named Lucas told CBS Saturday Morning that it was normal for people to be angry.

The unrest has caused tangible economic friction in the capital. Major museums are closed, and many businesses have boarded up their storefronts. Art Basel opened for a single day on Friday before organizers cancelled the weekend program. The first NFL game in France, featuring the New Orleans Saints, remains scheduled for Sunday, though some related venues were shut on Saturday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, originally planned for Sunday, has been moved to Monday night.

The previous weekend saw approximately 3,000 shops across France damaged or looted. This history of physical damage has prompted businesses to adopt protective measures, affecting foot traffic and consumer confidence in affected districts. The government’s strategy this week focuses on containment to protect commercial zones while allowing authorized demonstrations to proceed.

The Yellow Vests, a movement that emerged about eight years ago to protest against Macron, have announced additional demonstrations for October 31. They plan rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, criticizing the government’s approach. Internationally, similar unrest has appeared in Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni announced tougher penalties for minors after looting in Milan. In Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters in Tirana, while thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pensions.

The next scheduled major event is the NFL game in France on Sunday. The National Rally congress in Orléans is expected to run through Sunday. Authorities will monitor these events closely as they represent the final major gatherings before the Yellow Vests’ planned action on October 31.