France to deploy troops in response to protests after violent riots sweep cities

France plans to bolster police forces with troops and conduct a significant security operation ahead of planned protests on Saturday, the government announced on Tuesday, acknowledging shortcomings in its response to last weekend's violence. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that the deployment next Saturday would be extensive, focusing on restoring order following rioting and looting that occurred in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities on October 17.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez disclosed that military personnel would serve alongside police forces, while the government committed to revising tactics following widespread criticism over vulnerable city centers during the unrest. France intends to implement targeted curfews in certain areas to restore tranquility. The unrest was framed as a choice between violence and the Republic, with Lecornu blaming far-left groups for inciting the riots.

These groups, in turn, accused the government of underestimating public anger over rising living costs and deteriorating public services.

The unexpected scale of the violence shocked France, inflaming tensions ahead of upcoming presidential elections, as candidates from far-right and hard-left parties gained significant support in polls. Protests in other European nations, including Italy and Albania, heightened concerns that discontent over living standards could spread across the continent amid economic challenges faced by many countries, including France.

A brief period of calm followed targeted curfews imposed in several affected areas, enabling authorities to regain control. In central Paris, police secured and evacuated Place de la Republique, with a helicopter flying overhead. In Lille, police patrolled the city center, verifying the identities of passersby. The curfew in Lille applied only to minors.

Both the Prime Minister and Interior Minister acknowledged shortcomings in the state's response, citing intelligence failures and inadequate police deployment. Nunez expressed deep regret for the failings, accepting responsibility for the situation. A parliamentary commission of inquiry was established to determine the causes of the unrest, and 200 investigators were assigned to track down those involved in the street violence.

A suspect was arrested for setting a fire that destroyed a historic town hall in Limoges during the riots; he was identified as a member of an ultra-left group on a security watch list. High school students and teachers staged the largest protest in France's history, while borrowing costs for France climbed following investor apprehension about potential further unrest, with the yield on 10-year government bonds reaching its highest level in 24 years.

Student unions and Yellow Vest groups called for protests on Saturday, demanding continued pressure on the Macron government regarding the deteriorating education system and rising fuel costs. In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government implemented new security measures in response to unrest in Northern cities such as Milan.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto described the disturbances as a form of hybrid warfare orchestrated through social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Similar protests were anticipated in Tirana, Albania, for a seventh consecutive day, as citizens protested against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government.