Protesters Face 70,000 Officers and Rerouted Marches in French Cities

Thousands of workers and students in France face a heavily policed weekend as authorities prepare for a new wave of protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that up to 70,000 officers will be deployed across the country. This force includes helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. The deployment follows a week of unrest that resulted in looted shops and burned vehicles.

Paris has adjusted its logistics for the demonstration. Police rerouted the march on Friday. The new path is confined to the southeastern edge of the city. It runs between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This change moves the march away from the previously planned route between Bastille and Nation. Authorities expect a large crowd similar to the half a million people who marched last week.

The movement began last month over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. It has since expanded to include broader economic demands. Student groups have proposed a 10-point plan. This plan calls for 250,000 additional places in higher education. It also seeks to end the Parcoursup admissions system. Students want an extra 200 euros per month in grants and a rent freeze in public housing. Unions are pushing for higher wages and pension reforms to help households manage rising living costs.

Businesses and cultural venues in Paris have taken precautions. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais are closed on Saturday. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a major Cézanne exhibit. Art Basel opened to the public on Friday for a single day. Organizers canceled the weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend.

Not every city will host a rally. Marches are scheduled in Paris and Marseille. Local authorities banned demonstrations in Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier. French media reported that police used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning. Trade unions have criticized these bans as violations of freedom of expression, a right protected by the constitution.

Damage outside the capital has prompted legal action. Two suspects in the fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall in Limoges are under formal investigation. They are being held pending trial. The investigation includes attempted murder of a public official. Patrice Faure, the Paris police prefect, urged shopkeepers to hire security guards. He later clarified that protecting businesses remains the government's responsibility.

President Emmanuel Macron faces the crisis in the final stretch of his term. His popularity is at its lowest point since taking office in 2017. The centrist leader stated that the security measures are needed to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Orléans, about 110 kilometers south of Paris, thousands gathered for an anti-far-right protest. This event coincided with a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist party. The congress takes place ahead of next spring's presidential election.

Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and teacher at Saint-Denis University, commented on the economic climate. She said money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people. She added that this situation is no longer possible. Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. He said he received the call the previous night. The owner told him he was saving his life.