France deploys 70,000 security personnel ahead of fresh nationwide weekend protests

France is deploying about 70,000 police officers nationwide on Saturday, October 24, 2026, following severe urban violence during demonstrations the previous week.

Background

High school students initially protested over learning conditions. The movement quickly spread across the country and drew fresh momentum from public anger over the rising cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the heavy security deployment in Paris, warning that social media users were spreading calls for looting and violence.

Political Impact

The unrest comes just six months before presidential elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron. A Harris Interactive poll for M6 and RTL shows far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leading strongly with 33 to 35 percent in the first round. The survey predicts hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon will face her in the run-off, where Le Pen is projected to win roughly 70 percent of the vote. Adding to the weekend tension, Le Pen is hosting her National Rally party congress in Orleans, where thousands of supporters and between 20,000 and 30,000 counter-protesters are expected.

Government Action

President Macron met with secondary school representatives on Friday, October 23, but the students urged peers to continue protesting until the government presents concrete proposals. On Thursday, October 22, Macron demanded extreme strictness against delinquency and blamed ultra-left groups for trying to undermine the republic. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that courts have already sent 217 people to prison over last week's violence, with half of them being first-time offenders.

Security Restrictions

Authorities have banned or restricted demonstrations in several cities. In Orleans and Lyon, central areas are off-limits. Paris police reversed a permit for a union-led march between Bastille and Nation squares, offering an alternative southeastern route instead, though unions vowed to stick to their original path. In Marseille, a union protest was authorized on an exceptional basis. Major cultural sites including the Louvre museum will close on Saturday, and the Art Basel art fair is ending early.

Criticism And Concerns

Amnesty International criticized the restrictions as an authoritarian slide that threatens peaceful assembly. Human Rights Watch researcher Eva Cosse highlighted police duties to protect the public while raising concerns over reports of children severely injured by crowd-control weapons.

Context

These events reflect deep political and economic anxieties in France, where upcoming presidential elections and government debt are already major public concerns. Large-scale street protests combined with political party gatherings often present significant public safety challenges for law enforcement agencies.