By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Police in Paris have seized weapons and gas masks in a massive security operation ahead of expected demonstrations across France.
French authorities have launched a deployment of some 70,000 police officers across the country over the weekend, according to the interior ministry. Specialist SWAT units, helicopters, armored vehicles, police dogs, and water cannons are taking part in the operation. The number of French army soldiers patrolling Paris as part of counter-terrorism measures will be increased to free police from stationary guard duties.
Public spaces in the capital have been cleared of equipment and materials that could cause damage, including barriers, bins, and construction items. Shopfronts are boarded up, and key tourist locations—including the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Picasso Museum—are closed. Art Basel finished the Paris version of its fair two days early. The Paris National Opera canceled scheduled performances, a Paris Saint-Germain home match was postponed to Monday, and at least two dozen metro stations are closed. Place de la Bastille was also evacuated.
Government Vows Severity Following Days of Unrest
The sweeping security preparations follow widespread rioting on October 17. That unrest caused several hundred million dollars in damage and left at least two people dead. In Limoges, rioters torched the city’s 19th-century town hall. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the national government would pay to rebuild the structure “exactly as it was” rather than local taxpayers footing the bill. Two men, including one on a security watchlist, were charged over the fire.
“We will not let anything go unchallenged,” said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. “We will be uncompromising with the vandals, with the looters, and all those who commit acts of violence.”
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that around 2,700 people were held for questioning and 232 have been incarcerated. More than 1,100 people appeared in court following fast-track hearings, with roughly 260 cases involving charges of organized gang activity. Darmanin ordered prosecutors to seek severe measures for those convicted of looting or attacking police, including banning them from demonstrations, removing voting rights, and barring access to social media.
Fragmented Decrees and Mounting Political Discord
President Emmanuel Macron decreed that only demonstrations organized by recognized trade unions would be permitted. Several cities, including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier, announced blanket bans on gatherings.
The level of permitted protest remains inconsistent across the country. In Marseille, an initial ban on all demonstrations was swiftly reversed to allow a trade union-organized march to proceed. In Paris, a student-led march supported by labor groups was ordered to stick to a route that avoids the city center.
The movement began with high school student demands over conditions and staff shortages. Macron met student representatives on Friday. While advisers noted he pledged commitments starting Monday to improve education, student representatives said students should “continue to mobilise”.
Meanwhile, a revived yellow vest (gilets jaunes) movement listed over 500 planned demonstrations and 200 other actions while demanding Macron’s resignation. The group stated “we refuse to add our voices to the chorus of outrage” regarding the October 17 violence and accused police of attacking protesters.
The unrest comes ahead of next year’s presidential election, where polls suggest Macron’s centrist movement could fail to reach a runoff. Opposition leaders have criticized the government’s response. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the radical-left La France Insoumise, accused Macron of “destroying the republican state” through emergency restrictions. Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen is scheduled to address thousands of supporters at a two-day conference in Orléans, where left-wing counter-protests are expected. The mayor of Orléans warned expected crowds are “unprecedented,” prompting public transport suspensions and heavy police deployments. Le Pen is seeking the presidency for a fourth time while appealing a court conviction over embezzled EU funds, which she denies.
Discontent Expands Across Western and Southern Europe
The unrest in France reflects a broader trend of anti-government demonstrations sweeping European nations. Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Albania have all recorded recent street actions driven by economic stagnation and rising living costs.
In Albania, anti-corruption demonstrations first erupted over a proposed luxury resort project from Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. In Italy, initial unrest stemmed from rising fuel prices. Our correspondent in Milan reports that Italian authorities are bracing for protests as regional forces test tough new government measures to clamp down on violence.
In Portugal, housing affordability was the primary catalyst, while Spanish protests have focused on housing shortages alongside the Ceuta migration crisis. Across the region, public frustration remains anchored in cost-of-living pressures and dissatisfaction with government responses.
As European governments deploy heightened security measures and strict protest limits, leaders face the delicate challenge of maintaining civil order while addressing deep-seated economic and social grievances across the continent.
