France to deploy about 70,000 police for Saturday protests
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has warned of a very high risk of public disorder during protests on October 31 and announced the deployment of about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes. The new protest day was called by the Yellow Vest movement and student unions after rioting on October 17 that was among the country's worst in years.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned on Thursday of a "very high risk of public disorder" and said around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed across the country on Saturday, October 31. The new day of protests was called by the Yellow Vest movement and student unions. It comes amid a tense political climate: presidential elections are six months away, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen is leading opinion polls.
Security measures
According to the minister, the number of personnel matches the deployment of a week earlier. Measures introduced last week to protect shops will be strengthened. Demonstrations will be permitted, but not in city centres, where there is a risk of disorder. Nuñez pledged an "extremely firm" response and said no excesses would be tolerated.
Authorities have also detected social media calls for Halloween gatherings on Saturday evening that urge a "revolution". The minister said the appeals were being circulated by radical left groups and some radicalised Yellow Vest activists. Such gatherings will be banned.
Background
France has been shaken by anger over the rising cost of living and inequality. Nationwide demonstrations on October 17 degenerated into some of the worst rioting in years, with large-scale looting and vandalism of public property. Authorities have admitted to security and intelligence failures that allowed the clashes to happen. Last weekend's rallies were largely peaceful, though incidents of street violence still occurred.
The unrest followed weeks of student protests demanding better learning conditions. On Monday, the government announced measures responding to the students' demands, including replacing the university admissions platform and providing loans for school renovations. Students said the proposals did not go far enough. The police response has been criticised as heavy-handed and has fuelled a broader movement against the cost of living and police violence. Several teenage protesters have been seriously injured.
A fruitless meeting
On Thursday, representatives of youth organisations met Nuñez but left disappointed. Manon Moret, secretary-general of the student union Unef, called the meeting a "dialogue of the deaf". Some attendees accused the minister of refusing to acknowledge violence against protesters. Louis Letoublon, deputy head of the association Les Lycéens!, denounced "an irresponsible minister, incapable of answering for police repression".
