Security operation expanded
About 70,000 police officers and gendarmes are due to be deployed across France for Saturday’s demonstrations involving high-school students and people protesting against the rising cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the operation on Friday, according to Rezo Nodwes, which reported that authorities had identified social media calls for violence and looting.
The planned deployment is larger than the 60,000 personnel assigned to rallies on 17 October. AFP figures reported by Rezo Nodwes estimated that those demonstrations drew between 550,000 and 800,000 people. Rezo Nodwes also reported that about 2,700 people were placed in custody following the previous weekend’s unrest. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 217 of them had been jailed, while around 3,000 businesses were affected by violence and looting.
Restrictions will vary by city. One procession has been authorised in Paris on a route altered by the prefecture, while central Lyon will be closed to demonstrators. A gathering in Marseille was authorised following an initial ban. Nearly 3,000 security personnel are expected to be mobilised in Orléans, where opponents of a Rassemblement National congress plan to demonstrate on Saturday.
Students continue mobilisation
Emmanuel Macron held three hours of talks at the Élysée Palace on Friday with around 20 representatives of high-school organisations, Rezo Nodwes reported. Participants said commitments were discussed concerning the Parcoursup admissions platform and school democracy, but that many demands remained unresolved.
RTS Info reported that the representatives were broadly satisfied with Macron’s willingness to listen but called for mobilisation to continue until concrete measures are announced. Initial proposals are expected on Monday, when the organisations are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Nathanaël Combary, president of the Renouveau lycéen union’s administrative council, also urged students to keep mobilising.