Paris confines Saturday march to city edge as France deploys 70,000 police

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that up to 70,000 police officers will be deployed across France for the demonstrations scheduled for Saturday. The security operation includes the use of helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. In central Paris, a small number of gendarmes were positioned beneath the Arc de Triomphe and along the adjacent avenues on Friday.

Police authorities altered the planned route for the Paris march on Friday. The demonstration is now limited to the southeastern edge of the city, stretching from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes. This change replaces the originally intended path from Bastille to Nation. The shift in location follows last week's protests, which attracted more than half a million participants and resulted in looted shops and burned vehicles.

The current wave of protests began last month over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. The movement has since expanded beyond that initial grievance. Student groups are demanding more teachers, improved school infrastructure, and increased university enrollment. Labor unions are seeking higher wages and pension reforms to address rising living costs for households.

Student organizations have proposed a joint ten-point plan to address these issues. The plan calls for the creation of 250,000 additional higher education places. It also demands an end to the selection process used by the Parcoursup admissions system. Furthermore, the plan seeks an increase in student grants by 200 euros per month, equivalent to about 313 Canadian dollars, and a freeze on rents in public student housing.

Business owners and cultural institutions have prepared for the disruption. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais are closed for Saturday. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a major exhibition of Cézanne's work. Art Basel opened its doors to the public for a single day on Friday before organizers cancelled the weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend.

Shopkeepers have taken steps to secure their properties. Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was seen boarding up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. Ahmed stated that the shop owner called him the previous night to request the work. The owner told him he was saving his life. About 3,000 shops across the country sustained damage or were looted last weekend.

Not all planned rallies will proceed. Marches are scheduled in Paris and Marseille, but local authorities have banned demonstrations in other cities, including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier. French media reported that police used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning. Trade unions have criticized these bans as violations of the freedom of expression protected by the constitution.

Outside the capital, the aftermath of the unrest remains visible. French media reported that two suspects in the fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall in Limoges were placed under formal investigation. The suspects are being held pending trial. The investigation includes a charge of attempted murder of a public official. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure advised shopkeepers to hire security guards, then clarified that protecting businesses is a government responsibility.

President Emmanuel Macron faces the crisis in the final period of his term. His popularity is at its lowest level since he took office in 2017. He stated that the security measures are necessary to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Orléans, located about 110 kilometers south of Paris, thousands gathered for an anti-far-right protest. This event was held alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist party, which is set to run in the presidential election next spring.

Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and teacher at Saint-Denis University, commented on the economic conditions driving the unrest. She stated that money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people. Ambrosini added that the current situation is no longer possible.