France braces for Halloween protests, shops board up storefronts

France is bracing for a third consecutive weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween. According to Euronews, trade unions, students, and members of the yellow vest movement are scheduled to march over school conditions and the cost-of-living crisis. A source close to the Interior Ministry warned of a very high risk of public disorder, noting calls for unauthorized marches and undeclared gatherings.

To prevent a repeat of the violence and looting seen on October 17, France is deploying approximately 70,000 police officers, and France 24 reports that shops have begun boarding up storefronts.

In Germany, more than 160,000 demonstrators are expected to participate in nationwide protests on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The youth-led campaign group “Gen Z regelt” has organized rallies in 34 major cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. According to the Daily Times and The Jakarta Post, the movement opposes proposed compulsory military service and demands increased federal investment in education due to rising costs.

German authorities expect the demonstrations to be largely peaceful, though Dawn reports that the federal interior ministry has warned of attempts by far-left and foreign extremist groups to exploit the movement.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Daily Times, Euronews, Dawn, The Jakarta Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.