PARIS (Azat TV) – French authorities announced the mobilization of 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide ahead of Saturday demonstrations, while ordering major cultural institutions like the Louvre to shut their doors as the country braces for potential unrest.
The security measures follow a week of violent demonstrations across France driven by public anger over the rising cost of living. Last week’s protests devolved into extensive property damage, featuring street fires, ransacked public buildings, smashed storefronts, looting, and violent clashes with law enforcement in what officials described as the nation’s most severe civil unrest in years.
Security Posture and Tactical Deployment
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez detailed the security deployment during a news conference covered by the Associated Press, noting that authorities are deploying helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons alongside the 70,000 personnel. Elite tactical units have also been assigned to safeguard public infrastructure, including municipal city halls, under a mobile security framework.
“There have been numerous calls from radical far-left groups on social media to commit acts of violence and vandalism. There have also been renewed calls for looting, with those messages clearly being spread by rioters,” Nuñez stated.
Warning that security forces will maintain an uncompromising stance, Nuñez added that police are instructed to execute swift arrests with immediate legal consequences for individuals engaging in violence or property destruction.
Cultural Institutions and Public Events Shutdown
In response to the escalating security threat, the French Culture Ministry issued a directive ordering the temporary closure of premier national institutions. According to Associated Press reporting, the Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, the Picasso Museum, and the Grand Palais are among the prominent sites shuttered for the weekend.
The ministry instructed all establishments under its jurisdiction to implement rigorous safeguards to guarantee visitor safety, protect staff, and preserve invaluable cultural artifacts.
The disruption has similarly impacted major commercial exhibitions. Art Basel Paris opened to the general public on Friday following two invite-only days, but organizers elected to cancel the remainder of the weekend program over security concerns. The contemporary art fair, which hosts 211 international galleries at the Grand Palais, prioritized safety as its utmost concern, according to official statements.
Broad Coalition and Banned Marches
Saturday’s demonstrations are organized to protest the high cost of living, drawing participation from university students, members of the CGT labor union, and activists affiliated with the “yellow vest” movement that previously staged widespread anti-inequality protests in 2018 and 2019.
While municipal authorities have prohibited protests entirely in several urban centers—including Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier—large-scale marches remain authorized or anticipated in other key cities, including Paris and Marseille, heightening concerns over potential flashpoints.