France Orders 70,000 Police for Saturday Protests After Weekend of Looting

French citizens can expect a heavy security presence in their cities on Saturday as the government mobilizes up to 70,000 police officers to manage a new wave of demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the figure, noting that officers will be supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. This deployment comes one week after previous protests resulted in looted stores and burned vehicles across the country.

The current unrest involves students and workers marching over school funding and the rising cost of living. In Paris, the police altered the planned route on Friday. The march is now restricted to the city's southeastern edge, specifically between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This change moves the route away from the previously planned path from Bastille to Nation. A large crowd is expected, similar to the half-million people who attended last week's demonstrations.

Student groups have presented a joint 10-point plan to address their demands. The plan calls for 250,000 additional places in higher education and the end of selection through the Parcoursup admissions system. It also requests an extra 200 euros per month in student grants and a rent freeze in public student housing. Unions participating in the movement seek higher wages and better pensions to help households manage living costs.

Businesses and cultural institutions are preparing for the disruption. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais are closed on Saturday. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a major Cézanne exhibit. Art Basel opened to the public on Friday for a single day but canceled its weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during last weekend's protests. Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station on Friday. He stated that the shop owner told him he was saving his life.

Local authorities have banned marches in several cities, including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier. French media reported that police used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning. Trade unions have criticized these bans as violations of constitutional freedom of expression. In Paris, a few dozen gendarmes were posted beneath the Arc de Triomphe and along nearby avenues in preparation for the day's events.

Damage from the previous round of unrest has led to formal investigations. Two suspects in the fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall in Limoges were placed under formal investigation and held pending trial. The probe includes attempted murder of a public official. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure urged shopkeepers to hire security guards, though he clarified that protecting businesses is the government's responsibility.

President Emmanuel Macron faces the crisis in the final stretch of his term, with his popularity at its lowest since taking office in 2017. He has stated that the measures are needed to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Orléans, thousands gathered for an anti-far-right protest held alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's party ahead of the presidential election scheduled for next spring.