France boards up ahead of Halloween protests

Businesses in Paris began boarding up windows on Friday due to fears of street violence as the country prepares for a third consecutive weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween. Authorities warned of a high risk of public disorder fueled by rising inequality and the cost of living, according to Le Monde English.

Approximately 70,000 security personnel will be deployed on Saturday, a figure that matches the mobilization from the previous week. An aide to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that street violence comparable to the unrest seen two weeks ago is expected, noting concerns regarding vandalism and attempted looting. The Korea Times reports that officials are seeking to prevent a repeat of the October 17 unrest, which resulted in the damage or looting of thousands of businesses.

President Emmanuel Macron described the current state of turmoil as not normal given the proximity of the presidential election. The political climate remains tense with presidential elections six months away and far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading in opinion polls, according to The Korea Times.

Brief written by urgent.news from Le Monde English, The Korea Times — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.