France Detains 135 as 70,000 Officers Guard Second Protest Weekend

French police detained 135 people on Saturday as authorities deployed 70,000 officers to manage nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that security forces seized a variety of items during the crackdown, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft guns. Nuñez noted that no major incidents had occurred in the country up to that point. The government mobilized helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to support the ground troops.

In Lyon, where protests were officially banned, approximately 150 demonstrators near the city center attempted to block a road. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student speaking to Agence France-Presse described the police presence as highly mobile. The student observed that officers moved to disperse marches before they fully formed.

In Orléans, thousands of people marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party. Le Pen is using the event to launch her campaign to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in elections held six months from now. Surveys indicate she is currently best positioned to win the presidency. Demonstrators chanted slogans targeting both Macron and Le Pen. Police counted 11,000 participants in Orléans, while organizers claimed 26,000 people attended. About 50 groups, including unions, left-wing parties, and student organizations, called for the march. French media reported the protest ended peacefully in the early afternoon. The party congress is scheduled to continue through Sunday.

In Paris, authorities described the atmosphere as calm during the city’s only authorized march at the Porte d’Italie. Police moved the location from Bastille to the southeastern edge of the city at the last minute. Union organizers accepted the change reluctantly. Murielle Guilbert, a union representative, called the move scandalous because Macron barred protesters from demonstrating in their preferred location. She added that wages have not risen to the level they should. Lucas, a student speaking to CBS, said it was normal for people to be angry.

The unrest has disrupted daily life in the capital. Major museums are closed, and many businesses have boarded up their windows. Art Basel opened for one day on Friday, with organizers canceling the weekend program. The first NFL game in France, involving the New Orleans Saints, remains scheduled for Sunday, though some related venues closed on Saturday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, originally planned for Sunday, has been moved to Monday night. Approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's protests.

The current wave of protests began last month when high school students in the southeast of Paris demonstrated for better conditions. The movement widened as people demanded relief from rising living costs. The Yellow Vests, who emerged about eight years ago to stage disruptive protests against Macron, announced they will hold more demonstrations on Oct. 31. They plan rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, condemning what they describe as the authoritarian drift of the government.

Unrest has also spread elsewhere in Europe. Italy sent additional soldiers to Milan after looting and clashes occurred a week earlier. Premier Giorgia Meloni announced tougher penalties for minors, whom police said made up much of the violent crowd. In Tirana, Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters demanding lower tuition and an end to corruption in education. Thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pensions, and a housing protest was expected in Lisbon.