French authorities have mobilized 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide as the country braces for another weekend of demonstrations following a wave of violent riots, arson, and looting. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the security deployment on Friday, warning that elite security teams and heavily armed mobile units would be placed on high alert to maintain public order.
The unrest began last month as student-led protests over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating school infrastructure. The demonstrations have since escalated into sweeping nationwide rallies. Last weekend’s protests deteriorated into widespread rioting and property destruction.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Interior Minister Nunez stated that authorities are prepared for potential violence and pointed to social media calls from far-left groups targeting public buildings. “We are not talking about a nice, friendly demonstration,” he said. “We are ready for tomorrow. We will be extremely vigilant, extremely firm, and we will let absolutely nothing pass.” President Emmanuel Macron held last-minute talks with high school unions on Thursday and vowed to ban all demonstrations not organized by unions, while Paris officials moved to extend a nighttime curfew until Monday.
The ongoing civil unrest has severely disrupted public events and transportation schedules across the capital and other regions. Local police requested the rescheduling of a high-profile Ligue 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon from Sunday to Monday night, citing stretched security resources and past unrest surrounding PSG fixtures. The two clubs are currently tied at the top of the league standings, though the Monday night slot places the fixture in direct conflict with the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, potentially preventing nominated PSG players from attending.
Similarly, the NFL announced the closure of its pop-up shop on Rue Saint-Merri in central Paris on Saturday due to potential accessibility issues during the planned demonstrations. The store was operating as part of festivities leading up to Sunday’s regular-season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France, marking the first time an NFL regular-season contest is being held in France. The league confirmed that an alternative pop-up store would remain open at the stadium on Saturday.
In tandem with the security crisis, severe weather has compounded difficulties across parts of France. Storm Austen swept through the region on Friday, bringing winds of up to 111 mph and heavy rains that cut power to nearly 300,000 homes. Utility provider Enedis reported that the majority of power outages occurred in Brittany on the western coast and Normandy in the north. Transport minister Philippe Tabarot announced that rail traffic was completely suspended in Normandy, with major disruptions also affecting Paris commuter services.
Political tensions have intensified between the central government and regional leaders. Far-left party La France insoumise, led by presidential contender Jean-François Mélenchon, condemned the government’s protest bans as an “authoritarian headlong rush” and urged citizens to march peacefully, stating that civil liberties should not be treated as a bargaining chip by an executive branch in crisis.
Meanwhile, law enforcement activity remains high. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin reported on Thursday that 2,700 people have been taken into police custody since Saturday in connection with the riots and looting. Among recent arrests, French media reported that a 40-year-old suspect linked to a far-left movement and known for past violence against public officials was detained after a 19th-century city hall was burned down during the unrest.
Local officials have demanded immediate financial and physical backing from the state. Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan called on the government to provide robust protection and financial restitution for local shopkeepers after last week’s rioting and vandalism caused an estimated 28 million euros in damages to the city. “I want a police presence that will prevent businesses from being vandalized,” Payan said, demanding that the state reimburse local authorities for all expenses incurred during the crisis.
