In brief
A week after large‑scale riots, French authorities have mobilised 70,000 police officers to curb a fresh wave of protests. Only union‑organised marches are permitted, yet students, trade unions and the revived yellow‑vest movement plan large demonstrations. COVID‑clues of violent rhetoric on social media and new criminal justice measures fuel tension. The unrest comes amid a fraught political backdrop, with President Macron’s term ending and a highly divisive election cycle ahead.
France is on high alert ahead of a new day of nationwide protests on Saturday, a week after the country saw some of its worst unrest in decades.
Sweeping restrictions have been imposed on demonstrations across France, yet hundreds of thousands of protesters are still expected to gather in Paris and other cities for a second round of demonstrations organised by students, trade unions and wider anti‑government groups.
The interior ministry has deployed 70,000 police officers, ramping up the security presence in French cities, after the government was accused by opposition parties of failing to foresee the scale of the unrest on 17 October.
“We will not let anything go unchallenged,” said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. “We will be uncompromising with the vandals, with the looters, and all those who commit acts of violence.” He explained that separate from the planned protests, numerous calls for violence had been seen on social media from the far left and radical extreme left.
Hundreds of people have been jailed for vandalism, arson and looting after fast‑track court hearings in recent days. President Emmanuel Macron met high‑school students’ representatives on Friday, promising commitments while encouraging them to keep mobilising.
Macron decreed earlier this week that only demonstrations organised by recognised trade unions will be permitted on Saturday. Several cities—including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier—went further, announcing blanket bans on gatherings.
Official announcements have done little to deter organisers. Hundreds of demonstrations are planned across France, and while some mayors have pressed ahead with broad bans, others have allowed demonstrations registered with authorities, such as a trade‑union march in Marseille.
In Paris, a student‑trade‑union march has been routed out of the city centre, but preparations for unrest continue. Museums such as the Louvre, Orsay and Picasso will be closed, a PSG football match has been moved to Monday, and businesses have boarded up windows in anticipation of potential looting.
The protests are expected to involve the revived yellow‑vest movement, which attracted support from left and right during Macron’s first term. A website associated with the group listed more than 500 planned demonstrations and 200 other actions on Saturday and demanded that Macron resign.
On Friday, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 232 people had been imprisoned for their role in the 17 October riots, and more than 1,100 had appeared in court. He has ordered prosecutors to seek punitive measures for those who looted or attacked police, including banning them from future demonstrations and revoking voting rights.
Disillusionment runs high among the French public, facing rising living‑costs and warnings that future governments may need deep spending cuts to manage debt. The unrest unfolds against a polarised political landscape and France is gearing up for what could be the most divisive election period in a generation.
With Macron leaving office next spring, polls suggest a centrist candidate could fail to reach a run‑off in May, leaving voters to choose between the hard‑right National Rally and the radical‑left La France Insoumise. Leaders from both parties have blamed Macron for the disorder, and the National Rally’s conference in Orléans could become a flashpoint, with thousands of party supporters expected to gather and Marine Le Pen’s speech scheduled.
