France is preparing for another weekend of protests, with authorities deploying around 70,000 police officers nationwide as demonstrations against the cost-of-living crisis and school conditions coincide with Halloween celebrations.
The security operation follows two consecutive weekends of demonstrations that have been marked by growing tensions, including incidents of violence and looting. Authorities have warned of a high risk of public disorder on Saturday, with concerns that planned gatherings could escalate into unauthorised marches and clashes with police.
A source close to France’s Interior Ministry warned on Friday of a “very high risk of public disorder”, pointing to a growing number of calls for undeclared gatherings in public squares across the country. The source also highlighted plans for unauthorised marches towards government buildings and other state institutions.
The protests are expected to involve trade unions, students and members of the Yellow Vest movement, who are taking to the streets for a third consecutive weekend. Their demonstrations reflect wider dissatisfaction with living costs, rising fuel prices and conditions in schools.
The latest unrest comes despite the government’s announcement on Monday of several measures intended to address students’ concerns. However, trade unions have dismissed the proposals as inadequate, arguing that they do not go far enough to address the issues behind the demonstrations.
French authorities are responding with tighter restrictions and a larger police presence, following the violence and looting that accompanied demonstrations on 17 October. Although many protesters had taken part in peaceful marches, the incidents prompted officials to strengthen security arrangements ahead of subsequent rallies.
On Thursday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that demonstrations in city centres would be prohibited, with protests permitted only on the outskirts of cities. He said organisers had been asked to provide assurances that demonstrations would take place under appropriate conditions.
The restrictions have drawn criticism from trade unions and representatives of the Yellow Vest movement. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, major unions said they would consider “all possible avenues of appeal” against what they described as a general and disproportionate ban on a fundamental democratic freedom.
The dispute over where demonstrations can take place has added another dimension to an already tense situation, with organisers challenging restrictions on public gatherings while authorities maintain that the measures are necessary to prevent further disorder.
Halloween is also expected to complicate the security situation. Nuñez said the coincidence of the demonstrations with the celebrations could encourage disorder, particularly as gatherings continue into the night. He warned that groups attempting to use Halloween celebrations as a cover for unauthorised protests would not be allowed to proceed.
The minister also raised concerns about messages circulating on social media, including posts attributed to groups described as belonging to “ultra-left circles”. Some of the messages reportedly called for a “revolution” and an “insurrection”, prompting further concerns among security officials about the possibility of organised unrest.
As part of the preparations, police officers who had been on leave were recalled to duty in several parts of France, while some officers had their scheduled rest days cancelled. The measures are intended to ensure that sufficient personnel are available to manage demonstrations and respond to incidents throughout the weekend.
In Paris, police have introduced a night-time curfew for Saturday and Sunday in districts that experienced significant unrest during the demonstrations on 17 October. The restrictions form part of the wider effort to prevent a repeat of the violence reported during previous protests.
The route for Saturday’s Paris demonstration has also been changed following a legal dispute over the proposed march. Organisers had initially sought to demonstrate between Bastille and Nation, but the Council of State (Conseil d’Etat) overturned an administrative court ruling that had authorised the route.
The march will instead take place along the eastern outskirts of the capital, between Porte de Bagnolet and Porte de Charenton. The revised route reflects the restrictions imposed by authorities on demonstrations in central urban areas.
The current protest movement began in mid-September, when students staged demonstrations over conditions in schools in the Paris suburbs. What initially emerged as a student-led campaign gradually spread to other parts of the country, attracting support from trade unions and political groups.
The movement has since developed into a wider expression of public dissatisfaction, extending beyond education concerns to include the rising cost of living and increasing fuel prices. The involvement of the Yellow Vest movement has also brought renewed attention to economic grievances that have featured prominently in French protests in recent years.
With presidential elections approximately six months away, the demonstrations are taking place during a politically sensitive period for France. The government’s response, the restrictions on public gatherings and the concerns raised by protesters over their right to demonstrate have all become part of the wider debate surrounding the unrest.
For authorities, the immediate challenge is to prevent further violence while managing demonstrations that organisers and unions insist are an exercise of democratic freedoms. For protesters, the restrictions have become another point of disagreement with a government already facing pressure over the issues that brought people onto the streets.
