French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Friday, October 23, that up to 70,000 police and gendarmes would be deployed across the country to maintain order during weekend demonstrations. By Saturday, Nuñez reported 135 arrests and the seizure of various weapons, including fireworks, slingshots, and a katana, as security forces used tear gas to disperse groups in cities like Lyon where protests had been banned.
The current wave of demonstrations began last month when high school students protested teacher shortages and infrastructure issues, but the movement has expanded into nationwide rallies regarding the cost of living. Last weekend, protests resulted in damage or looting at approximately 3,000 shops and a suspected arson at the city hall in Limoges. In response, President Emmanuel Macron scheduled a meeting with high school unions at the presidential palace on Friday afternoon to address student grievances.
In Paris, major cultural institutions including the Louvre, Orsay Museum, and Picasso Museum remained closed on Saturday, while shopkeepers on the Champs-Elysees and near Place de la République boarded windows with wooden panels. While an NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers remained scheduled for Sunday, several associated fan events were canceled or postponed. In Orleans, police reported that 11,000 people—though organizers claimed 26,000—marched against a congress held by the National Rally party.
The protests are also influencing the broader French economy and political landscape. S&P Global reported that French business activity contracted in October, dropping to 48.4 points on the flash services PMI, which businesses linked to heightened political uncertainty. Additionally, the cost for the French government to borrow money has increased as investors react to the country's financial outlook and the upcoming presidential election.
What happens next: The security mobilization will remain in effect through the weekend, with French authorities monitoring social media for calls to target public buildings. A scheduled soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais has been moved to Monday night. The broader political contest continues as Marine Le Pen of the National Rally launches her campaign to succeed President Macron, with national elections scheduled to take place in six months.