70,000 Officers Guard Paris Marches

More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed across France on Saturday to secure a second wave of mass protests. This is a 20 percent increase in personnel compared to the previous weekend, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The surge in security follows a turbulent week that saw over half a million people take to the streets on October 17, resulting in widespread looting and the detention of more than 2,000 individuals.

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Paris on a restricted route along the Boulevards des Maréchaux. The march started at Porte d'Italie and ended at Porte de Vincennes on the city's southeastern edge. Local authorities banned an originally negotiated central path between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Only union-organized protests were permitted on this specific corridor, while other groups faced prohibitions. The last-minute route change drew criticism from participants who viewed it as an effort to limit the movement's visibility and energy.

Emma, a podcaster and protester, described the route restriction as a government tactic to drain the momentum of the demonstrations. Monica, a retired public education worker, said the move made the movement appear invisible to the public. Neither woman provided a last name. Marchers included students, teachers, nurses, ecologists, and union representatives. They chanted slogans such as "Too many billionaires; We are preparing the revolution" and called for President Emmanuel Macron to resign. Some groups also shouted anti-fascist chants while dancing through the streets.

Central Paris prepared for the crowds by shutting down 24 metro stations at the request of the police prefecture. Many businesses covered their shop windows with protective panels, and some retailers hired private security guards. The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay closed for the day, and Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend programming. In other cities, authorities banned protests in downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. A union march in Marseille proceeded under strict conditions.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported arresting at least 135 people nationwide and seizing various weapons. Officials stated the situation remained calm despite the heavy presence. The elite RAID unit supported other police operations rather than directly managing crowds. The unrest stems from worsening conditions in schools and rising living costs. High school students initially blockaded their schools in mid-September over dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, and the university admission system. President Macron met with student representatives on Friday for the first time since the protests began. He promised more teachers and a major overhaul of the Parcoursup admission platform. Students said they would continue mobilizing until concrete actions were presented.

The political turmoil unfolds roughly six months before the presidential election. Macron is barred from running for a third consecutive term and will leave office in 2027. Marine Le Pen, who has campaigned on restoring law and order, leads recent polls by a wide margin. In Orléans, thousands of people shouted anti-fascist slogans while Le Pen's National Rally held a party congress to mark the start of its campaign. Authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration against the party event. The Yellow Vest movement also announced its own protest for October 31.