France Deploys Up to 70,000 Officers for Weekend Rallies

French authorities are preparing for a major mobilization of security personnel to manage anticipated unrest during scheduled demonstrations on Saturday.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has announced that up to 70,000 officers may be deployed nationwide, supported by aerial surveillance and armored units. In central Paris, security personnel have been stationed near key landmarks. Police have altered the planned route for the Paris march, shifting it to the city's southeastern outskirts to avoid a path from Bastille to Nation.

The movement, which began last month over staffing shortages at a high school, has expanded to address broader economic and educational concerns. Student groups and trade unions are advocating for increased school funding, additional university places, and higher wages and pensions to offset the rising cost of living.

Student organizations have proposed a ten-point plan that includes creating 250,000 additional higher education spots, reforming the admissions system, and increasing student grants by 200 euros per month. They are also calling for a freeze on rent within public student housing.

Cultural institutions and businesses are closing their doors in anticipation of the protests. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Picasso Museum will be closed on Saturday, and organizers have cancelled the weekend schedule for Art Basel due to safety concerns. Contractors are securing storefronts, including an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. Last weekend, approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted.

While marches have been approved in Paris and Marseille, other gatherings in cities such as Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier have been prohibited by local authorities. Trade unions have criticized these restrictions as violations of constitutional rights regarding freedom of expression. Police reportedly used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning.

President Emmanuel Macron is addressing the situation during the final years of his term, a period in which his popularity has reached its lowest point since taking office in 2017. He has stated that security measures are necessary to protect public buildings and businesses. In Orléans, a protest against the far-right occurred alongside a congress for Marine Le Pen's party, which is scheduled ahead of the presidential election next spring.

Authorities are also investigating a fire that severely damaged the 19th-century city hall in Limoges, where two suspects have been placed under formal investigation and detained pending trial. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure has urged shopkeepers to hire private security to protect their businesses.