Paris restricts second protest route as 70,000 officers deploy

Paris city officials restricted the route for Saturday's mass demonstration to a single corridor along the Boulevards des Marechaux. The march started at Porte d'Italie and was scheduled to end at Porte de Vincennes on the city's southeastern edge. Local authorities designated this as the only permitted path, overturning a previously negotiated plan for a central route connecting Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation.

The sudden change in logistics frustrated many participants. Emma, a podcaster and protester, described the restriction as a government tactic designed to drain energy from the movement. Monica, a retired public education worker, said the decision made the movement appear invisible to the public. Both women declined to provide their last names.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez ordered a deployment of more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide. He stated that this figure represents a 20 percent increase in personnel compared to the previous weekend. The elite RAID unit was assigned to support other police operations rather than directly managing crowds.

The increased security aimed to prevent a repeat of the events on October 17. On that date, largely peaceful protests turned into widespread looting, vandalism, and clashes. Official figures indicate that thousands of businesses were damaged or ransacked, and more than 2,000 people were taken into custody.

By early Saturday afternoon, police reported that the situation remained calm. They arrested at least 135 people nationwide and seized various weapons. Protests were banned in the downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice. In Lyon, police fired tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators.

In central Paris, many businesses shuttered their doors and covered shop windows with protective panels. Some retailers hired private security firms. At least 24 metro stations closed at the request of the police prefecture. The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay closed for the day, and Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend programme.

The current wave of demonstrations began in mid-September when high school students blockaded schools. They cited dilapidated buildings, teacher shortages, and an unfair university admission system as key grievances. On Friday, President Emmanuel Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the protests started.

Macron promised to hire more teachers and conduct a deep overhaul of the Parcoursup admission system. Student leaders stated they would continue mobilizing until the government presents concrete actions. More than half a million people took to the streets during the October 17 protests.

The political unrest occurs approximately six months before a presidential election. Macron is barred from seeking a third consecutive term and will leave office in 2027. Marine Le Pen of the National Rally leads recent polls by a wide margin. In Orleans, thousands of people shouted anti-fascist slogans while Le Pen's party held a congress marking the start of its campaign.

Authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 people to join a counter-demonstration in Orleans. The Yellow Vest movement announced its own protest for October 31. The current protests target worsening conditions in schools and the rising cost of living.