At a Glance

• France plans to deploy up to 70,000 officers nationwide for Saturday’s demonstrations.

• Major Paris museums have closed amid fears of renewed unrest.

• Authorities have banned some rallies, while unions criticize the restrictions.

• The protests began over school staffing shortages and expanded to broader economic and political grievances.

  ---

French authorities are deploying tens of thousands of police officers and closing major cultural venues ahead of a new round of protests on Saturday, seeking to prevent a repeat of last week’s violence, looting, and attacks on public buildings.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Public Security: “As many as 70,000 officers will be deployed nationwide.” — French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

• Economic Inequality: “The money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people.” — Victoria Ambrosini, art critic and art teacher at Saint-Denis University.

• Focus Area: Authorities are preparing for renewed unrest as protests over school staffing shortages and public services broaden to include concerns about living costs and political inequality.

  ---

The planned deployment includes helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. More than half a million people took to the streets the previous week, while around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted, according to the report.

The Louvre, Orsay Museum, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais are among the major Paris museums closed on Saturday. Art Basel, which opened to the public on Friday, cancelled its weekend program because of concerns about further unrest.

Shopkeepers in Paris have spent the week boarding up storefronts to protect against potential looting. Following the violence, Paris police prefect Patrice Faure urged businesses to hire security guards, later clarifying that protecting businesses and their owners remains the government’s responsibility.

Demonstrations are scheduled in Paris and Marseille, while local authorities have banned some rallies in cities including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier. The restrictions have drawn criticism from trade unions, which argue that the bans infringe on constitutionally protected freedom of expression.

In Orléans, south of Paris, around 50 organizations have called for an anti-far-right demonstration alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen’s nationalist, anti-immigration party. Participating groups include trade unions, left-wing parties, student organizations, and anti-racism groups.

The protests initially began last month at a high school southeast of Paris, where students demonstrated over staff shortages. The movement spread to other suburbs and cities, with students raising concerns about underfunded schools, shortages of staff in lower-income neighborhoods, and university admissions.

The demonstrations have since broadened to include anger over the rising cost of living and wider political grievances, putting further pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government as his term approaches its end.

FYI

France has faced recurring demonstrations over education, living costs, public services, and government policy. The right to protest is protected in France, although authorities can restrict individual demonstrations under certain circumstances on public-order grounds.

Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You

Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:

French High School Students Launch Fresh Protests Amid Rising Tensions

French Student Protests Intensify Scrutiny of Police Tactics