France deploys 70,000 police for third weekend of protests
Demonstrations over education and living costs in France coincide with youth-led rallies across Germany, Italy and Spain.
France deployed 70,000 police and gendarmes on Saturday for a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations regarding education and living costs, according to The New Indian Express. Authorities rerouted marches in Paris to the edge of the capital to manage the crowds.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned of a very high risk of disorder, particularly after dark on Halloween. Paris police prohibited union and yellow vest marches from entering the city centre, directing them to follow a route from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton.
President Emmanuel Macron stated that marches would remain outside city centres to protect shops. Police also restricted entry to Les Halles and Place de la Republique between 11 pm and 6 am on Saturday and Sunday nights.
The protests began with high school students demonstrating against school conditions and expanded to include grievances over the cost of living. On October 17, authorities recorded approximately 550,000 marchers, while 410,000 people participated in the largely peaceful protests last Saturday.
Youth-led rallies also occurred across Europe. In Germany, the Gen Z regelt initiative organised protests in about 30 cities regarding health, climate, and education. Meanwhile, Catalan police in Spain prepared for a high-level alert following calls for gatherings via TikTok.