France Deploys 70,000 Officers for Protests

French authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country on Saturday to secure a second wave of mass demonstrations.

The security operation was the largest since the riots of the previous weekend, which Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said involved 2,000 arrests and widespread damage to businesses.

Nunez stated that the number of officers on duty increased by 20 percent compared to the prior Saturday. The elite RAID unit supported general police operations rather than managing crowds directly.

Thousands of protesters marched through Paris, with participants including students, teachers, nurses, and union representatives. The group chanted slogans calling for President Emmanuel Macron to resign and criticized the concentration of wealth among billionaires.

Local authorities restricted the main Paris march to a route along the Boulevards des Marechaux, running from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes. This southeastern path was the only option allowed after officials banned a previously negotiated central route between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation.

Participants expressed frustration over the last-minute change in plans. Emma, a podcaster and protester, described the route selection as a tactic to drain the movement's energy. Monica, a retired public educator, said the move made the movement appear invisible to the public.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide and the seizure of various weapons. Officials characterized the situation as calm, despite the heavy security presence.

In central Paris, 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 canceled its weekend events. Many businesses in the city center shuttered and hired private security to protect their storefronts.

The demonstrations extend beyond Paris, with protests banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. A union march in Marseille proceeded under strict conditions, and the Yellow Vest movement scheduled its own protest for October 31.

The unrest originated in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools to protest building conditions, teacher shortages, and the university admission system. On Friday, Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the protests began and promised a deep overhaul of the Parcoursup system. Students indicated they would continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions.

The political tensions arise six months before the presidential election, in which Macron is barred from seeking a third term. Marine Le Pen, who leads recent polls, was campaigning in Orleans where her National Rally held a congress. Authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration there, where thousands shouted anti-fascist slogans.