In brief
One week after the most violent unrest in decades, France’s government is mounting a massive police presence for a new wave of protests slated for Saturday. The Interior Ministry will deploy 70,000 officers, while restrictions allow only recognised trade‑union demonstrations in many cities, sparking furious backlash from parties and student groups. Cultural landmarks and sports venues have closed amid fears of looting, and the revived Gilets Jaunes movement plans over 500 rallies demanding Macron’s resignation. With the November presidential election looming, the clash of far‑right and far‑left factions could reshape France’s political landscape.
France is on high alert ahead of a new day of nationwide protests on Saturday, a week after the country’s worst unrest in decades.
The interior ministry has announced a deployment of 70,000 police officers, a sharp escalation in security after the government was criticised for under‑estimating the scale of the riots on 17 October.
While organisers have threatened an unprecedented clash, the government has restricted rallies to those backed by recognised trade unions, and cities like Lyon, Nice and Montpellier have gone further, banning demonstrations entirely.
In Paris, a student‑led march has been rerouted away from the city centre, yet preparations for unrest in heritage sites and museums are underway. The Louvre, Orsay and Picasso will all be closed on Saturday; a PSG match has been rescheduled for Monday.
The revival of the Gilets Jaunes movement—once a symbol of left‑wing protest—has seen a surge of support across the country. Its online call lists over 500 planned demonstrations demanding President Emmanuel Macron resign.
In the weeks ahead, political parties will clash as the election season deepens. La France Insoumise’s Jean‑Luc Mélenchon has accused Macron of "destroying the republican state" while the National Rally’s Marine Le Pen faces a court case over alleged EU fund embezzlement.
The protests are expected to be a crucible for France’s future political direction, with the possibility of a run‑off between the hard‑right and radical‑left parties as the current centrist government steps down next spring.
Leaders of student groups spoke to the media after holding talks with Macron on Friday.
