Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that online calls targeting city centres and public squares point to clear plans for violent disruption. While protests remain permitted elsewhere, central gathering bans and reinforced security aim to protect retail shops from renewed looting. The domestic friction is unfolding just six months ahead of presidential elections, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen currently leads in opinion polls. To help de-escalate public grievances, the government recently introduced targeted measures for students, including revamping the university admissions platform and funding school renovations.
Key points
French security forces will enforce strict bans on central city demonstrations to protect…: French security forces will enforce strict bans on central city demonstrations to protect commercial areas from anticipated holiday violence.
The renewed threat of social unrest coincides with a tense political atmosphere ahead of…: The renewed threat of social unrest coincides with a tense political atmosphere ahead of presidential elections in six months.
Officials are balancing reinforced policing operations with administrative concessions ai…: Officials are balancing reinforced policing operations with administrative concessions aimed at addressing underlying socioeconomic grievances.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
French interior minister on Thursday warned of a "very high" risk of urban violence, as authorities prepare for the next wave of demonstrations that coincide with Halloween on Saturday.
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez told reporters that around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed across France, just like a week ago, Le Monde reported.
"The day of October 31 (Saturday) presents a very high risk of public disorder," Nuñez said, adding that security measures introduced last week to protect shops will be strengthened.
The minister said demonstrations will be allowed, but "not in city centres, where there is a risk of public disorder".
In a directive signed on Wednesday, Nunez instructed the Paris police chief and regional prefects to prepare a “robust” security deployment for the protests.
“Multiple calls have been identified on social media for gatherings in city centres and public squares across the country, under the pretext of Halloween,” Nunez said in the directive, which was seen by AFP on Thursday.
The analysis of those calls “leaves no doubt as to the intention of those behind them…
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