French authorities are mobilizing 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide this weekend, bracing for what the government has designated a very high risk of widespread public disorder as cost-of-living demonstrations intersect with Halloween celebrations.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the exceptional security deployment at a Thursday news conference, confirming that specialized tactical equipment—including armored vehicles and water cannons introduced the previous week—will be actively utilized. The mobilization matches the massive police presence deployed during the previous weekend’s unrest.
Tensions have gripped France amid ongoing protests over the soaring cost of living, a movement that has occasionally erupted into largescale looting and violent riots. Official figures from the interior ministry stated that last Saturday’s demonstrations drew approximately 410,000 protesters nationwide, resulting in more than 2,700 arrests. In contrast, labor unions estimated the turnout at roughly double the government’s count.
The upcoming demonstrations, organized by student unions and factions of the yellow vest movement, are scheduled for Saturday. Authorities have expressed particular concern over the convergence of political rallies and Halloween festivities. Nunez issued a direct warning to demonstrators against exploiting the holiday as a pretext to conceal their faces in public areas to facilitate disturbances.
While affirming that peaceful demonstrations remain permitted, Nunez stated they will be prohibited in city centers where the potential for public disorder is elevated. The interior minister also addressed factional violence, warning far-right groups that have previously clashed with left-wing protesters across roughly 15 French cities that authorities will tolerate no excesses and will maintain an extremely firm response.
Furthermore, Nunez accused ultra-left factions and certain yellow vest activists of utilizing social media platforms to circulate messages promoting Saturday evening demonstrations that explicitly call for a revolution. He confirmed that these specific gatherings are banned. The yellow vest movement has already declared a third act of its protests for Halloween, calling for demonstrations outside the National Assembly and town halls across the country.
