France Deploys 70,000 Police Ahead of Nationwide Protests

France has mobilised around 70,000 police officers nationwide as authorities prepare for demonstrations over rising living costs and strained public services. In Paris, soldiers patrolled major landmarks, including the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez urged officers to respond swiftly to potential violence and looting following unrest the previous weekend.

Businesses across the capital took precautionary measures, with many shops boarding up their windows and luxury retailers strengthening security. Major cultural attractions, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and the Paris Opera, announced closures, while more than 20 metro stations were shut. Police also sought to redirect the main Paris demonstration away from the city centre over concerns about public disorder.

Authorities imposed restrictions or bans on demonstrations in several French cities, although some union marches were authorised. An approved march in Orléans opposed Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, which was holding a congress in the city. Tensions were further heightened by a shooting west of Paris on Friday that killed one person and injured four others, including a 12-year-old girl.

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