France Braces for Protests: 70,000 Police Deployed, Curfews Imposed
France is preparing for a potentially tense day of protests on Saturday, with authorities deploying 70,000 police officers nationwide. The protests, which are expected to coincide with Halloween celebrations, are being held by trade unions, students, and the yellow vest movement against the cost-of-living crisis and school conditions.
The protests come after the French government presented policies addressing student grievances, which unions have deemed insufficient. A source close to the Interior Ministry has warned of a "very high risk of public disorder" on Saturday, with calls for undeclared gatherings and unauthorised marches towards state institutions proliferating.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has banned protests in city centres, allowing only those on the outskirts of cities to proceed. He has also warned that gatherings seeking to pass off as Halloween celebrations will be banned, and that social media posts urging individuals to back a "revolution" and "insurrection" will be monitored.
The heightened security measures come amid accusations of excessive force by human rights groups against French law enforcement. Paris police have imposed a curfew on Saturday and Sunday night in districts that experienced significant unrest. The final route for the march in Paris on Saturday has been set for the eastern outskirts of the capital.
The student protest movement, which began in mid-September, has expanded into a broader social movement against the cost-of-living crisis and rising fuel prices. The protests come around six months before France's presidential elections.
