France deploys 70,000 police for Saturday protests after looted shops and burned cars

Seventy thousand officers will stand watch across France this Saturday, a deployment scale that reflects the government's urgent response to a new wave of demonstrations. The security mobilization comes one week after unrest resulted in looted storefronts and burned vehicles, prompting Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to announce the large-scale assignment of police forces. This latest deployment is backed by aerial support from helicopters, along with armored vehicles and water cannons designed to manage crowds.

The immediate focus is on Paris, where authorities have adjusted logistics in response to the expected turnout. On Friday, police officials redirected the primary march away from its original planned route from Bastille to Nation. The new path is now confined to the southeastern edge of the city, stretching between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This change aims to contain the crowd in a specific corridor rather than allowing it to traverse central avenues. Last week's protests attracted more than half a million participants, and organizers anticipate another large gathering.

The roots of the current movement trace back to last month, when staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris sparked initial complaints. The grievances have since expanded to include demands for additional teachers, improved school infrastructure, and increased university capacity. Labor unions have joined the students in calling for higher wages and stronger pension protections to offset the rising cost of living for households. Student groups have formalized these demands into a joint ten-point plan.

Specific financial and structural targets are central to the student proposal. The plan calls for the creation of 250,000 additional places in higher education institutions. It also seeks to end the selection process used by the Parcoursup admissions system. In terms of direct financial support, the groups are requesting an extra 200 euros, roughly $313 Canadian, in monthly student grants. They are also pushing for a freeze on rents in public student housing.

Businesses and cultural institutions have prepared for potential disruptions. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais are closing their doors for the day. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a major Cézanne exhibit, but it joins the other landmarks in suspending operations. Art Basel, which opened to the public on Friday, cancelled its weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Shopkeepers have spent the week preparing defenses, with many barricading their stores.

Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was seen boarding up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. He noted that he received a call the previous night from the owner, who stated he was saving his life. The urgency of these preparations is grounded in recent data showing that approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's unrest.

Not all planned rallies have received approval. While marches are scheduled in Paris and Marseille, local authorities have banned demonstrations in 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 freedom of expression, a right protected by the French constitution.

Outside the capital, the physical impact of the protests has been severe. In Limoges, two suspects were placed under formal investigation and held pending trial regarding a fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall. The investigation includes charges of attempted murder of a public official. In Paris, police prefect Patrice Faure advised shopkeepers to hire security guards, later clarifying that protecting businesses remains the government's responsibility.

President Emmanuel Macron faces this crisis during the final stretch of his term, with his popularity at its lowest since taking office in 2017. He has stated that the security measures are necessary to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Orléans, located about 110 kilometers south of Paris, thousands gathered for an anti-far-right protest. This event was held alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist party, occurring ahead of next spring's presidential election.

Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and teacher at Saint-Denis University, commented on the economic drivers of the unrest. She said money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people, adding that it is not possible anymore.