France to deploy 70,000 police for fresh weekend protests

France has announced plans to deploy approximately 70,000 police across the country in anticipation of fresh weekend protests. The move comes after violent unrest erupted during demonstrations a week earlier, marking some of the most intense urban violence in recent years. The unrest was sparked by high school students advocating for improved learning conditions, which has since evolved into a nationwide movement fueled by widespread discontent with the rising cost of living.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez disclosed the deployment at a news conference in Paris, warning that incitements for violence and looting were circulating on social media. The protests have materialized at a crucial juncture, six months before elections set to determine France's next president, with a recent poll indicating Marine Le Pen as the frontrunner, her position bolstered by the recent events.

Adding to the tension, Le Pen is scheduled to host her National Rally (RN) party congress in Orleans, an event expected to draw thousands of supporters. Local authorities are bracing for potential clashes, as counter-protesters are also anticipated to converge on the city located south of Paris. Following a meeting with secondary school students on Friday, they expressed their determination to continue protesting until the government presents tangible solutions to their grievances.

In an attempt to distinguish between legitimate protest demands and the ensuing looting, burning, and destruction that occurred during Saturday's demonstrations, Macron's government has taken a firm stance. Courts have already sentenced 217 individuals, including 217 first-time offenders, to prison for the incidents that took place on that day.

President Emmanuel Macron called for "the utmost severity" against acts of delinquency, attributing the unrest to "ultra-left" groups attempting to "bring down the republic." An extreme-left group in western France had even posted a call on its website for supporters to become "uncatchable, unpredictable, to evade the deployment" of police.

Authorities have tightened security measures and imposed restrictions on protests. In Orleans, between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals are expected to participate in demonstrations against Le Pen’s National Rally party, but the gathering will not be permitted within the city center. Similarly, central Lyon and Paris will be off-limits to demonstrators this weekend. In response, unions vowed to proceed on the banned route, citing safety concerns over the alternative path.

In Marseille, protests were initially banned, but on Friday, a union-organized demonstration was permitted under an "exceptional basis" – the sole authorized protest in the southern Bouches-du-Rhone department. In the capital, renowned museums, including the Louvre, will remain closed on Saturday, while the Art Basel art fair will be prematurely terminated.

Critics, such as Amnesty International, have denounced the escalating restrictions as a "slide toward authoritarian practice," jeopardizing the right to peaceful protest. Approximately 20% more members of the security forces will be deployed this weekend to address concerns over police readiness and intelligence gathering following the violence witnessed during last week's demonstrations.

Human Rights Watch expressed alarm over reports of children suffering severe injuries due to crowd-control weapons. The violence has tarnished France's image at a critical time, with the government's mounting debt also posing a risk to investors. A new poll conducted after the unrest revealed that Le Pen has surged ahead, with support ranging from 33-35% in the first round of voting for the presidential elections, positioning her as the likely winner in the run-off against hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who is expected to face her with a substantial lead.