135 arrested as French authorities deploy 70,000 officers for second weekend of cost-of-living protests

For many residents in major French cities, the second consecutive weekend of nationwide protests brought heightened security and logistical disruptions. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 135 individuals were detained during the demonstrations on Saturday. These arrests followed a strategic deployment of up to 70,000 police officers across the country, a significant increase intended to prevent the unrest seen the previous week when more than half a million people took to the streets.

Authorities reported that the seized items from the detainees included a variety of objects, ranging from metal balls, lead pellets, and fireworks to more unusual items like a katana and airsoft weapons. Despite the large turnout and the extensive police presence, the minister stated that there had been no major incidents in the country so far. The deployment was supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to manage the crowds effectively.

In Lyon, where demonstrations had been officially banned, approximately 150 protesters near the city center attempted to block a road. Police responded with tear gas to clear the area. A 21-year-old student speaking to Agence France-Presse noted that the officers were really mobile, explaining that they often disperse marches before they even fully form. This proactive approach was evident in several locations where authorities sought to control the flow of demonstrators.

The political dimension of the protests was prominent in Orleans, where thousands marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party. The event marks the beginning of Le Pen’s bid to succeed President Emmanuel Macron, with elections scheduled for six months from now. Surveys indicate that Le Pen is currently best placed to win the presidency. Participants chanted slogans targeting both leaders, and police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed the number reached 26,000. The protest, which involved about 50 groups including unions and student organizations, ended peacefully early in the afternoon.

In Paris, the atmosphere was described as calm, although the city’s only authorized march was moved at the last minute from the Bastille to the Porte d'Italie on the southeastern edge of the city. Union representative Murielle Guilbert called this change scandalous, arguing that wages have still not risen to the level they should. The unrest has also affected daily life, with major museums closed and many businesses boarded up. Major events, such as Art Basel, were shortened or altered, and a soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais was rescheduled to Monday night. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's protests.

The movement began last month with high school students in the southeast of Paris demanding better conditions, which quickly expanded into a broader campaign for relief from rising living costs. The Yellow Vests, a group that emerged about eight years ago, have announced plans for further demonstrations on Oct. 31. They intend to hold rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, criticizing what they describe as the authoritarian drift of the government.

These protests have sparked similar unrest in other parts of Europe. In Italy, additional soldiers were sent to Milan following looting and clashes, leading Premier Giorgia Meloni to announce tougher penalties for minors. In Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters demanding lower tuition, while thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pension concerns. A housing protest was also expected in Lisbon, indicating a broader regional trend of public dissatisfaction.