French Police Increase Deployment by 20% for Second Student Protest

French authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide on Saturday, a 20 percent increase from the previous weekend. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that this boost in personnel aimed to prevent a repeat of the disorder seen on October 17. That earlier day saw widespread looting and vandalism, with official figures reporting that thousands of businesses were damaged and over 2,000 people were taken into custody.

The security measures accompanied the second wave of mass demonstrations targeting school conditions and the cost of living. In Paris, local authorities restricted the march to the Boulevards des Marechaux along the southeastern edge of the city. This single permitted route replaced a previously negotiated central path between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation, which was banned in a last-minute decision. Protesters, including students, teachers, and union representatives, expressed anger over the change, with some describing it as a tactic to make the movement invisible.

The restrictions had immediate commercial consequences in the capital. Many businesses in central Paris shuttered early and installed protective panels over shop windows. Some retailers hired private security firms to guard their premises. The Paris police prefecture requested the closure of at least 24 metro stations to manage crowd flow and safety. Major cultural institutions, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, closed for the day, while Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend programme.

Protests occurred in other major cities under varying conditions. Authorities banned demonstrations in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. A union march in Marseille was authorized but subject to strict conditions. By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests nationwide and the seizure of various weapons, while characterizing the overall situation as calm.

The unrest stems from student blockades that began in mid-September over dilapidated buildings and teacher shortages. President Emmanuel Macron met with student representatives on Friday for the first time since the protests started. He promised additional teachers and a major overhaul of the Parcoursup university admission system. Student leaders indicated they would continue mobilizing until the government provides concrete actions.

The political stakes are high with a presidential election approaching in 2027, in which Macron is barred from a third term. Marine Le Pen, who leads recent polls, campaigned on law and order during a National Rally congress in Orléans on Saturday. Authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration there, where thousands shouted anti-fascist slogans. The Yellow Vest movement has also announced its own protest for October 31.