France protests, USA News (Paris): France prepared on Saturday for a new day of demonstrations against the high cost of living and for the improvement of high school students’ study conditions. The mobilizations unfold amid heightened tensions following scenes of violence that marked previous protests on October 17 and, to a lesser extent, on October 24. Overnight from Friday to Saturday, the Council of State ruled in favor of the Paris police prefect and the government by validating a procession route from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton, thereby rejecting the route between Bastille and Nation defended by labor unions.
According to the Council of State order consulted by Reuters, the decision was motivated notably by the existence of “a very high risk of new major disturbances to public order.” Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had stated the previous day that he also anticipated a “very high risk of disturbance to public order” across France for this Saturday. He announced the deployment of 70,000 law enforcement personnel throughout the country, matching the deployment from a week earlier, after declaring earlier in the week that everyone was mobilized to ensure an extremely firm response to any incidents.
Because Saturday coincides with Halloween, the minister recalled regulations regarding disguises, noting that under a 2019 law, concealing one’s face during a demonstration where public order disturbances occur or are reasonably expected constitutes an offense. On October 24, Ministry figures showed 410,000 people demonstrated across France, including 110,000 in Paris, without major incidents following the violence and looting that accompanied the initial mobilization day on October 17.
Key Developments and Official Measures
Authorities and transport networks implemented wide-ranging controls and disruptions across the capital and regional areas as events unfolded:
| Authority / Organization | Action / Update |
|---|---|
| Préfecture de Police | Conducted over 1,200 checks in Paris and its small crown transport stations by early afternoon. |
| Ministry of the Interior | Deploted 70,000 police and gendarmes nationwide; noted approximately 150 planned gatherings across France. |
| RATP | Reported partial traffic interruptions, station closures, and bus route diversions due to public demonstrations. |
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise (LFI) and a presidential candidate for next April, stated on social media network X that he would join the Port de Bagnolet assembly in response to calls from student and worker unions. Meanwhile, union representatives like Adèle Tellez, co-secretary of CGT Paris, criticized the last-minute route alteration, arguing that moving the starting point to Porte de Bagnolet would disorganize participants arriving at Bastille. Regional authorities, including the prefect of Nouvelle Aquitaine and Gironde, reiterated bans on face-covering masks, disguises, and carrying potential weapons during the demonstrations.
