France plans to deploy 70,000 police nationwide for Saturday’s protests, Reuters reported, as officials respond to last weekend’s unrest, when about 3,000 shops and businesses were ransacked. France also plans to use Sentinelle soldiers to free police for the Oct. 24 protests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the deployment would involve 10,000 more officers than a week earlier. Specialist units, mounted police, helicopters, drones and anti-drone systems will support the operation, with armored vehicles and water cannons available. Curfews in some sensitive areas will remain in force, he said.
Reuters reported that Paris authorities approved one union demonstration and rejected permit requests from the student union UNEF and the Yellow Vest movement, which first emerged in 2018. UNEF said it planned to hold its rallies despite the rejection. Marseille and Lyon have separately banned protests. Business groups have also called on shops to close after the damage.
The Louvre is among the cultural institutions set to close Saturday, while Art Basel’s Paris fair will remain closed through the weekend. Rising living costs and pressure on public services have brought students, workers and unions to demonstrations in recent weeks. Nunez said officials had found internet messages from hard-left groups calling for attacks on public buildings.
The unrest has also affected France’s political debate. Reuters reported that it had boosted poll ratings for Marine Le Pen, who is a frontrunner for next year’s presidential election. Left-wing and anti-racist groups have announced counterdemonstrations around the National Rally’s annual congress in Orleans.
CFDT general secretary Marylise Leon argued on TF1 that denying permits for more Saturday marches could deepen public frustration and leave protesters feeling unheard. President Emmanuel Macron was due to meet student representatives Friday. Reuters also reported Moody’s was widely expected to lower France’s credit rating that day amid concern about public spending. The demonstrations are planned for Saturday, Oct. 24.
