French Protests: Police Deploy 70,000 Officers for Second Wave

French authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide on Saturday to manage a second wave of mass demonstrations. The mobilization was the largest security presence in years, driven by a determination to avoid a repeat of the chaotic events from the previous weekend. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that officer numbers were 20 percent higher than the prior Saturday, with the elite RAID unit supporting broader police operations rather than directly engaging crowds.

Thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through Paris, moving from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes along the Boulevards des Marechaux. Local authorities designated this southeastern route as the only permitted path after banning an originally negotiated central itinerary between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Protests organized by groups other than trade unions were also prohibited. The last-minute route change frustrated participants. Emma, a protester and podcaster, described the decision as a government tactic to drain the movement of energy. Monica, a retired public education worker, said the move gave the impression that authorities wanted to make the movement invisible.

The march included students, teachers, ecologists, nurses, and union representatives. Participants danced and chanted slogans, with some calling for President Emmanuel Macron to resign. One group shouted, "Too many billionaires; We are preparing the revolution," while another chanted, "We are all anti-fascists." In central Paris, many businesses shuttered and covered windows with protective panels. Some retailers hired private security. At least 24 metro stations closed at the request of the police prefecture. The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay closed for the day, and Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend programme.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide and the seizure of various weapons. Officials described the situation as calm. Protests were banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. A union march in Marseille proceeded under strict conditions, while police in Lyon fired tear gas to disperse about 150 demonstrators. The Yellow Vest movement announced a separate protest for October 31.

The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools over dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, and the university admission system. On Friday, Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the protests started. He promised more teachers and a deep overhaul of the Parcoursup system. Student leaders stated they would continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions. More than half a million people took to the streets on October 17, when largely peaceful protests turned into widespread looting and clashes that led to over 2,000 custodies.

The political turmoil arrives about six months before a presidential election. Macron is barred from a third term and will leave office in 2027. Marine Le Pen, who has campaigned on restoring law and order, leads recent polls by a wide margin. In Orleans, thousands shouted anti-fascist slogans as the National Rally held a party congress to mark the start of its campaign. Authorities expected 20,000 to 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration in the city.