France Deploys 70,000 Police Amid Nationwide Protests Over Cost of Living
Around 70,000 police officers were mobilized across France as tens of thousands demonstrated against high living costs and government policies, while authorities reported dozens of arrests and limited violence.
Paris, Oct 24 — About 70,000 police officers were on the streets of France on Saturday as tens of thousands marched in the capital and other cities, protesting the rising cost of living and accusing President Emmanuel Macron of cutting public services. The police presence was 10,000 stronger than during the October 17 unrest, which had seen widespread vandalism and looting.
Police used tear gas in Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille and Nice, and a water cannon in Nice after protesters ignored orders to disperse. Clashes also occurred in Marseille and Lyon between police and groups of youths. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the force had to be "ultra, ultra responsive" and reported that 135 people had been arrested nationwide following pre-emptive searches that uncovered fireworks and other potential weapons.
Central Paris resembled a lockdown zone, with shopkeepers boarding up storefronts, museums closing, and more than 20 metro stations shut. Business groups urged retailers to stay closed after extensive damage to shops during the previous weekend's protests. "There are hardly any customers, so it's not really worth staying open," said Oskar, manager of a boutique in Paris.
Cultural institutions such as the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Paris Opera closed as a precaution, prompting frustration among tourists. "Everything's boarded up and we're not quite sure where we should be," said Xavier Dolliole, a visitor from New Orleans.
The route of the main Paris demonstration was altered after a police order moved organizers away from the city centre to the southeastern outskirts, a change that left left-wing politicians accusing authorities of trying to cause confusion. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who attended the rally, warned that protests would continue unless Macron addressed the social discontent.
In Orléans, about 120 km south of Paris, an authorised march proceeded peacefully, with demonstrators also targeting Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally, which was holding a party congress in the city. A shooting west of Paris on Friday, suspected to be Islamophobic, heightened tensions, leaving one dead and four injured, including a 12-year-old girl.
Authorities also deployed soldiers to patrol the Champs-Élysées, a move that some demonstrators said was excessive. "We shed tears for shops, not for the people who are being impoverished all year round," said Clara Lebbadi, a 22-year-old arts student.
The protests reflect growing public frustration over economic inequality and the government's handling of public services, with officials warning that the situation remains volatile.