France Mobilizes 70,000 Officers as Protests Return to Paris

Tens of thousands of students and workers returned to the streets of France on Saturday, confronting a police force mobilized at its largest scale since the recent unrest began. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that up to 70,000 officers are deployed across the country. The deployment includes helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to manage the crowds. In central Paris, gendarmes were positioned beneath the Arc de Triomphe and along adjacent avenues to secure key landmarks.

The protest movement originated last month following staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. It has since expanded to address broader economic and educational grievances. Students are demanding more teachers, improved school infrastructure, and additional university spots. Unions are pushing for higher wages and better pensions to help households manage rising living costs. Student groups have proposed a joint 10-point plan. This plan calls for 250,000 extra places in higher education and the end of the Parcoursup admissions selection system. It also includes a request for an extra 200 euros per month in student grants and a rent freeze in public student housing.

Police altered the demonstration route in Paris on Friday. The march is now restricted to the city's southeastern edge. It runs between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This replaces the previously planned path from Bastille to Nation. Last week’s protests attracted more than half a million people. Organizers expect a similar turnout this weekend. About 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend of unrest.

Businesses and cultural institutions are adjusting to the disruption. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais are closed for the day. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a major Cézanne exhibit. Art Basel opened to the public for a single day on Friday. Organizers cancelled the weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Shopkeepers have been barricading their stores throughout the week. Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. He said the owner told him he was saving his life. Ahmed added, "I got the call last night."

Local authorities have banned marches in several cities, including 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 protected by the constitution. In Limoges, two suspects in a fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall were placed under formal investigation. They are held pending trial, with charges including attempted murder of a public official. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure urged shopkeepers to hire security guards. He later clarified that protecting businesses remains the government's responsibility.

President Emmanuel Macron faces this crisis in the final stretch of his term. His popularity is at its lowest point since he took office in 2017. He has stated that the security measures are necessary to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Orléans, located 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 party is preparing for the presidential election scheduled for next spring. Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and teacher at Saint-Denis University, commented on the economic climate. She stated that money is now "concentrated in the hands of very few people" and added, "it's not possible anymore."