French minister says Halloween protests could turn violent

Paris — Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned on Monday that next weekend's Halloween protests in France could potentially turn violent, despite a large security operation that managed to control nationwide demonstrations on Saturday. The unrest, which has caused concern among President Emmanuel Macron's government, continues to escalate after violent clashes erupted nine days ago in numerous cities, raising fears that the state may have lost control of the streets.

In response to the chaos, the interior ministry mobilized 70,000 police officers for Saturday's demonstrations, which were called by unions to protest the high cost of living and deteriorating public services. The movement has grown far beyond its initial roots as student discontent, now involving trade unions and yellow vest activists, widely recognized for their conspicuous jackets and large-scale protests against economic pressures, including skyrocketing fuel costs.

Far-right gangs and far-left activists have come into confrontation, according to Nunez, who acknowledged the extensive police presence on Saturday helped avert a repeat of the violence witnessed earlier this month. However, he expressed uncertainty during an appearance on BFM TV on Monday about whether further disturbances could occur during demonstrations planned for October 31.