Nuñez: 135 Arrested as France Guards Streets Against Second Protest Wave

French authorities tightened security in major cities on Saturday to prevent a recurrence of last week's unrest over rising living costs. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that 135 people had been arrested during the second weekend of nationwide protests. He stated that no major incidents had occurred in the country up to that point.

Police seized a variety of items from demonstrators, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, airsoft guns, and a katana. Nuñez confirmed that up to 70,000 officers were deployed across the nation. The security force was supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons.

In Lyon, where demonstrations were prohibited, approximately 150 protesters attempted to block a road near the city center. Police used tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student speaking to Agence France-Presse described the police as "really mobile," noting that officers dispersed marches before they could fully form.

Thousands marched in Orleans against a National Rally party congress where Marine Le Pen is launching her presidential bid. Le Pen is positioned to win the election, which takes place in six months. Marchers chanted "Macron resign. Le Pen in prison." Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed 26,000. The protest ended peacefully in the early afternoon, and the congress is scheduled to continue through Sunday.

In Paris, authorities described the atmosphere at the Porte d'Italie as calm. This location was the site of the city's only authorized march, moved at the last minute from the Bastille. Union representative Murielle Guilbert called the relocation "scandalous," arguing that wages had not risen to the necessary level. A student named Lucas told CBS Saturday Morning that it was "normal for people to be angry."

The unrest has disrupted daily life, with major museums closed and many businesses boarded up. Art Basel opened for one day on Friday before cancelling its weekend program. A scheduled NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and an opponent remains set for Sunday, though some venues were 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.

The protests originated last month when high school students in southeastern Paris demonstrated for better conditions. The movement has since expanded to include demands for relief from high living costs. The Yellow Vests, a group that emerged roughly eight years ago, announced plans for further demonstrations on Oct. 31. They intend to hold rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, criticizing the government's "authoritarian drift."