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In brief

• French authorities have deployed over 70,000 police and gendarmes for nationwide protests on Saturday, October 24.
• The mobilization follows last week's demonstrations which involved arson, looting, and clashes with police.
• Parisian museums, including the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, are temporarily closed due to disorder risks.
• The government has announced the deployment of helicopters, armored vehicles, and reserve military units.

Security Deployment

French authorities have mobilized over 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to maintain order during the protests planned across the country on Saturday, October 24 (Francuzi znów wyszli na ulice, rząd zmobilizował do ochrony porządku ponad 70 tys. policjantów – WNP.pl) (Francja szykuje się na protesty. 70 tys. policjantów, śmigłowce i pojazdy opancerzone w gotowości – Rzeczpospolita). Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons will assist the operation (Франція готується до нових погромів: 70 тисяч силовиків виведуть на вулиці – TSN). A reserve of several thousand soldiers has also been placed on standby in case the situation in Paris escalates beyond control.

After Last Week's Unrest

The heightened security measures follow demonstrations last weekend that resulted in arson, looting and confrontations with law enforcement in various cities. Authorities confirmed that 135 people were detained after those protests (Protesty we Francji. Zatrzymano 135 osób. Na ulicach ponad 70 tys. policjantów - PolsatNews.pl – polsatnews.pl). Officials also cited social media posts from radical left groups calling for violence, vandalism and looting, and said the government intends to respond firmly to such actions.

Participation and Movement Context

Students, the CGT trade union and activists associated with the yellow vest movement are expected to take part in Saturday's marches. The yellow vest movement began in 2018 and 2019 over public dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living and social inequality. In some municipalities, certain marches have been banned.

City-Level Precautions

In Paris, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Picasso Museum and the Grand Palais exhibition complex will temporarily close because of the risk of disorder. Football matches have also been called off, and some shopkeepers have begun securing their premises by removing stock or boarding up windows (Prancūzijoje prieš naujus protestus griežtinamas saugumas, užkalami langai – LRT) (Prancūzija ruošiasi naujai protestų bangai: prekybininkai uždengia vitrinas – LRT). Special units are guarding state buildings, including town halls, while police operate in mobile teams for rapid response.

Political Climate

President Emmanuel Macron has called on demonstrators to keep the peace. Critics argue that the bans on some demonstrations limit citizens' right to protest. Tensions ahead of the weekend have been heightened by a fatal shooting near Paris (France protests: More violence feared amid renewed demonstrations – DW).