France on High Alert as Hundreds of Thousands Protest
France is bracing for a second day of nationwide protests, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to gather in Paris and other cities across the country. The protests, organized by students, trade unions, and anti-government groups, come a week after the country saw some of its worst unrest in decades.
The interior ministry has deployed 70,000 police officers to maintain order, following criticism from opposition parties that the government failed to anticipate the scale of the unrest last weekend. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has vowed to take a tough stance against "vandals, looters, and those who call for violence."
Protesters are expected to gather in Paris, where thousands of members of the hard-right party, led by Marine Le Pen, are set to rally in the city of Orléans. The city's mayor has warned that the numbers expected are "unprecedented" and has promised to deploy thousands of police to manage any potential clashes.
Public buildings and businesses across France have been boarded up ahead of the protests, and public transport has been suspended in some areas. Opinion polls suggest that Le Pen could have her strongest chance yet of becoming president, despite a court finding her guilty of embezzling EU funds earlier this year.
As the protests continue, the French government is also facing criticism for its handling of the situation. The interior minister has announced new measures to tackle youth violence, including increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 18 and allowing police to detain minors preventatively if they suspect they pose a threat.
