France and Germany are bracing for potential unrest as hundreds of demonstrations are planned across the two countries. The protests, which are set to take place over the weekend, are in response to the rising cost of living and the deteriorating education system. In France, police have deployed 70,000 officers to prevent a repeat of the riots and looting that have swept the country in recent weeks. Shops and businesses across France have boarded up their storefronts in anticipation of the demonstrations. Police have also restricted access to certain areas, including Place de la République and Les Halles, between 11pm and 6am on Saturday and Sunday. In Germany, Berlin's police chief, Barbara Slowik Meisel, has announced that she will deploy an additional 1,500 officers in the capital. However, she has expressed little concern that people or property will come under attack, stating that there is no concrete evidence of any coordinated looting operations being planned. The protests in France have been met with a warning from the interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, who has described the situation as a "very high risk of public disorder". The demonstrations have drawn hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets, with some descending into violence and widespread looting reported on 17 October. The protests are not limited to France, with hundreds of demonstrations also planned across Germany. The situation is being closely monitored by authorities in both countries, who are working to prevent any potential unrest.