France is bracing for another wave of protests this weekend, with authorities scrambling to prevent a repeat of the kind of violence and riots that gripped the country last week.
French authorities will launch a major security operation over the weekend, deploying around 70,000 police officers across the country, the Interior Ministry said.
Specialist SWAT units, helicopters, armored vehicles, police dogs and water cannons will all take part in the operation. In addition, the number of French soldiers who normally patrol Paris as part of counter-terrorism efforts will be increased, and the police will be relieved of full-time security duties.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Friday that the government “will not compromise on those who commit acts of vandalism” and issued a stern warning to those looking for trouble.
Last week’s violence followed weeks of protests over education, dire job prospects and the cost of living. Initially peaceful, with most of the participants being students, the demonstrations soon turned into the deadliest nationwide wave of violence in years.
This week, curfews were imposed in some cities to maintain calm.
French authorities prepare for weekend protests
A large demonstration has been called for in Paris on Saturday afternoon, with French media expecting hundreds of thousands of people to take part.
The protest is being organized by UNEF, France’s main student union, and CGT, one of the country’s largest trade unions, has also announced that it will take part. Other groups will also take part, including farmers, climate change activists and the Yellow Vest movement, which first emerged during protests over fuel prices in 2018.
Protests in Paris have been approved by authorities, but French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday banned all non-union protests on Saturday in an effort to curb civil unrest.
But the preparations go far beyond bans and police warnings, especially since last week’s riots sparked criticism of authorities for not taking the threat seriously enough.
Earlier this week, the city of Paris announced it would remove equipment and materials that could cause damage from public spaces, including barriers, trash cans and construction materials.
Many of the French capital’s main tourist attractions will be closed on Saturday, including world-famous museums such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie.
Art Basel ended its Paris edition of the fair on Friday, two days ahead of schedule. The Paris Opera National Theater canceled performances on Saturday due to the protests, and at least 24 metro stations will also be closed for much of the day, city authorities said.
The NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints is scheduled to be held Sunday at the Stade de France on the outskirts of the nation’s capital. The game is scheduled to take place, but a Steelers fan event in Paris has been canceled by the NFL.
Last weekend’s violence left at least two people dead and several others seriously injured, including two who lost hands. France’s Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said around 2,700 people had been investigated in connection with the riots and 232 had been jailed.
