France braces for fresh student protests with 70,000 police deployed
Fresh protests have been called in France against the rising cost of living, declining public services and a shortage of teachers. Ahead of the new programme, the government has decided to deploy 70,000 police personnel in Paris and other cities.
The country's main student organisation, the National Union of Students of France (UNEF), will hold its programme on Saturday (24 October). The main opposition party has also called a rally in the central city of Orleans later in the week.
Last week's protests saw incidents of looting and vandalism. The decision to strengthen security has been taken with the new programme in view, in the aftermath of that violence.
At a press conference in Paris on Friday (23 October), French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said calls for violence and looting were spreading on social media, and that 70,000 security personnel would be deployed on Saturday.
As part of the security measures, authorities have already banned protests and rallies in several cities, including Lyon in the south-east. A specific route has also been set for the march in Paris.
In the southern city of Marseille, protests were first banned, but a trade union was later given permission to hold its programme, so the picture may differ from city to city.
In the capital, the Louvre and several other major museums will remain closed on Saturday, and the Basel art fair's activities are being wrapped up ahead of schedule — a sign of how the protests are affecting everyday life.
Over the events of 17 October, 217 people have so far been sent to jail. Half of them had no previous criminal record, the country's justice minister said.
Because of the ongoing crisis, President Emmanuel Macron has postponed his trips to Nigeria and Senegal planned for the end of this month. On Friday he held a defence council meeting with top ministers and officials.
He is also expected to meet student representatives for the first time. Attention will now be on whether Saturday's programme ends peacefully and where talks between the government and the protesters lead.
