France assigns 70,000 officers for Saturday protest wave

France is preparing for a new round of nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, one week after unrest resulted in looted stores and burned vehicles. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that up to 70,000 police officers will be deployed across the country. The security operation will include support from helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons.

Police altered the planned route in central Paris on Friday. The march is now restricted to the southeastern edge of the city, stretching between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This change moves the protest away from the previously planned path from Bastille to Nation. More than half a million people attended last week's demonstrations, and authorities expect another large turnout this weekend.

The protests began last month over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. The movement has since expanded to include broader demands from students and workers. Students are requesting more teachers, improved school infrastructure, and additional university spots. Labor unions are seeking higher wages and pension reforms to help households manage rising living costs.

Student groups have proposed a 10-point plan that includes specific financial targets. The plan calls for 250,000 new higher education places and the end of the Parcoursup admissions selection system. It also demands an increase of 200 euros, approximately $313 Canadian, in monthly student grants. A rent freeze in public student housing is another key requirement in the proposal.

Businesses in Paris have taken precautions to protect their properties. Shopkeepers have been barricading their stores throughout the week. Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, boarded up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. He stated that the owner called him the previous night and said he was saving his life. About 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's protests.

Several major cultural institutions will be closed on Saturday. These include the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Picasso Museum, and the Grand Palais. The Grand Palais is currently hosting a major Cézanne exhibit. Art Basel opened to the public for a single day on Friday, but organizers cancelled the weekend program due to the threat of unrest. Local authorities banned marches in Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier, although rallies are proceeding in Paris and Marseille.

President Emmanuel Macron faces the crisis during the final stretch of his term, with his popularity at its lowest point since 2017. He stated that the security measures are necessary to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. In Limoges, two suspects were placed under formal investigation for the fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall. The investigation includes charges of attempted murder of a public official.