The French government is sending 70,000 police officers to cities across France as they anticipate a third week of significant anti-government protests starting Saturday. These demonstrations, fueled by rising costs and discontent with President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, have led to incidents of looting and vandalism, prompting the increase in law enforcement presence, as officials note.
“Everyone is on deck to ensure an extremely firm response to any trouble,” said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez during a news conference earlier this week. It seems, well, everyone is quite serious about this.
The upcoming protests, which align with Halloween, add an interesting twist, since some demonstrators may wear Halloween masks to conceal their identities. The Interior Ministry has already noted at least 150 planned gatherings throughout the country.
Interestingly, Macron has attributed the protests to “ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic.” One notable planned event, a march from the famous Parisian squares of Republique to Bastille, was prohibited by the country’s top administrative court, redirecting it instead to less central boulevards.
According to France’s Chamber of Commerce, retail losses due to looting and property damage could exceed $1 billion, and additional estimates suggest that total losses might be even double that figure.
In Paris, several iconic luxury stores, including Hermes and Louis Vuitton, have faced damage with many storefronts now covered in wooden boards. It’s sort of unsettling to see those once-bustling shopping areas looking so battered.
In light of the unrest, the French government is drafting a law that would impose penalties on rioters causing property damage, potentially holding them liable for up to €10,000, or about $11,000. That seems like a serious incentive to discourage rioting.
The protests reportedly began with the youth advocating for better schooling conditions and educational reform, but they have quickly expanded to address various social issues, notably economic pressures and the soaring cost of living.
Although the government has promised reforms in education and plans to cut fuel prices, these measures have not appeased the demonstrators.
“When I was little, I was told that young people are the future,” stated 15-year-old high school student Aaron Berthier de Grandry, who intends to join the protests this weekend. He expressed concern that if the “future of France” lacks necessary resources, the country could collapse.
The U.S. Embassy in France is advising travelers to steer clear of areas where large gatherings are occurring. It’s a chaotic time, to say the least.
