France Deploys 70,000 Officers as Youth Protests Enter Third Weekend

Authorities deployed approximately 70,000 police and gendarmes across France on Saturday for the third consecutive weekend of demonstrations. This massive security presence aimed to contain crowds protesting living costs and education policies while minimizing the risk of renewed violence.

The government estimated that 320,000 people participated in the nationwide marches. This figure represents a decrease from the 410,000 attendees recorded on Oct. 24 and the more than 500,000 who gathered on Oct. 17. While organizers suggested higher numbers, the official count indicated a slight decline in turnout despite the continued mobilization.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez characterized the risk of disorder as very high, particularly in the evening hours around Halloween. His warning followed incidents in previous weeks where largely peaceful marches deteriorated into rioting and looting. Police responded to those earlier events with tear gas, water cannons, and dispersion grenades, which resulted in several severe injuries.

Arrests on Saturday totaled approximately 300 nationwide. This number was significantly lower than the 800 arrests recorded at the same time during the previous week’s protests. The reduction in arrests suggested that the heavy security deployment and rerouting of marches may have helped maintain order among the majority of participants.

In Paris, police moved the main protest march outside the city center to protect government buildings and tourist sites. The decision followed a last-minute court battle. Approximately 70,000 people gathered along the Boulevards des Maréchaux, a ring of avenues that skirts the edge of the capital. The march remained largely peaceful for several hours, with techno music playing from speakers and some participants engaging in trick-or-treating activities.

Clashes eventually broke out near Porte de Charenton, where the march concluded. Protesters threw glass bottles and fireworks at officers, who responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Smoke filled the air as dusk fell, causing many peaceful marchers to cough and stream tears. Some left the route and scattered into the nearby Bois de Vincennes, one of Paris’s largest parks.

The movement began last month with high school students protesting neglected buildings, teacher shortages, and university admissions systems. Labor unions and other groups joined the demonstrations, adding demands related to President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Participants carried banners representing diverse grievances, including climate change and housing affordability.

Similar youth-led protests occurred in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands. In Germany, the initiative known as Gen Z regelt rallied in more than 30 cities. Organizers reported tens of thousands of participants, though official figures were not immediately available. In Berlin, students gathered at Brandenburg Gate to demand investments in education and housing.

In Portugal, thousands of protesters, including families with small children, converged in downtown Lisbon to address the housing crisis. They held placards with slogans such as Houses or Fire and We are not Afraid. In The Hague, a strong police presence guarded the downtown shopping area following online calls for protest, though few major disturbances were reported by midafternoon.