Paris Limits March Route as France Deploys 70,000 Officers for Second Protest

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Paris on Saturday under a tighter security perimeter than the week before. Local officials restricted the main procession to the Boulevards des Marechaux, a route along the city's southeastern edge. This change replaced a previously negotiated path through the city center that ran between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Organizers not affiliated with unions were also barred from holding separate events in the capital.

The shift in logistics frustrated many participants. Emma, a podcaster and protester, described the restriction as a strategy to drain energy from the movement. Monica, a retired public education employee, stated the move made the effort look invisible. Both speakers declined to provide their last names. Marchers included students, nurses, teachers, and union representatives. The crowd chanted slogans demanding President Emmanuel Macron's resignation and cited wealth inequality. One group shouted about preparing a revolution, while another identified as anti-fascist.

Businesses in central Paris braced for disruption. Many shops covered their windows with protective panels or hired private security guards. At least 24 metro stations closed at the request of the police prefecture. Major cultural institutions, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, suspended public access for the day. Art Basel Paris cancelled its scheduled weekend program in response to the unrest.

Nationally, authorities deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that this number represented a 20 percent increase over the previous weekend. The elite RAID unit supported general police operations rather than managing crowds directly. By early Saturday afternoon, police reported at least 135 arrests across France. Officers also seized various weapons. The situation remained largely calm, though protests were banned in downtown areas of Montpellier, Rouen, and Nice.

In Lyon, police used tear gas to disperse approximately 150 demonstrators. A union march in Marseille proceeded under strict conditions. The Yellow Vest movement announced plans for its own protest on October 31. The current wave of demonstrations follows the country's most violent riots in years, which occurred on October 17. That day saw widespread looting and vandalism, with over 2,000 people detained according to official figures.

The unrest began in mid-September when high school students blockaded buildings over infrastructure issues and teacher shortages. On Friday, Macron met with student representatives for the first time since the crisis started. He promised to hire more teachers and overhaul the Parcoursup university admission system. Students indicated they would continue mobilizing until the government provides concrete actions. More than 500,000 people participated in the October 17 marches.

The political timeline adds pressure to the situation. A presidential election is scheduled for 2027, with Macron barred from seeking a third term. Marine Le Pen currently leads recent polls by a wide margin. In Orleans, thousands of people gathered for a counter-demonstration against her National Rally party congress. Authorities estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 people would join that event.