Around 70,000 police officers have been placed on alert in France for protests planned for this Saturday. The measure is intended to prevent a repeat of the clashes and acts of violence recorded in several cities in recent weeks.
The gatherings coincide with Halloween celebrations and are being organized by students, trade unions and supporters of the Yellow Vest movement.
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Citizens taking part in the protests are expressing their opposition to the rising cost of living, higher fuel prices and the deterioration of public services.
Authorities have assessed the risk of escalation as very high, especially during the evening hours. Another concern is the possibility that Halloween masks could be used by some protesters to conceal their faces and avoid police identification.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has stated that there will be a strong response to any act of violence. He stressed that all security forces have been mobilized to maintain public order.
In Paris, authorities have also intervened in determining the route of the main protest. France’s highest court overturned the decision of the lower court, which had authorized the march from Bastille toward Place de la Nation. Demonstrators will follow a different route, from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton, on the outskirts of the capital.
The protest movement began to expand in September, initially over problems in education, including the poor condition of school infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms and concerns about the university admissions system. Later, trade unions and representatives of the Yellow Vests joined the protests, adding economic issues to their demands.
Security forces have been reinforced following the unrest two weeks ago, during which shops, businesses and public buildings were damaged in several French cities. In Paris, restrictions have also been imposed overnight from Saturday into Sunday in areas where fierce clashes took place on October 17.
The crisis has increased pressure on the minority government of President Emmanuel Macron, which is drafting the budget for 2027, while public debt is approaching 120% of gross domestic product.
Similar gatherings are expected to take place in other European countries as well. Reuters reports that this Saturday’s demonstrations could involve more than 30 cities in Germany.
