France Deploys 70,000 Police as Protests Intensify

The French government has deployed 70,000 police officers nationwide to prevent vandalism and looting as protests over education and economic hardship continue to escalate.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said at least 135 people had been arrested by midday on Saturday, assuring that the disorder witnessed during the previous weekend’s demonstrations would not be repeated.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Marseille, where police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators, including adults, secondary school pupils and university students.

Paris was also placed under tight security, disrupting sightseeing plans for tourists visiting the French capital.

Some visitors had travelled to the city to watch Sunday’s National Football League game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Louvre Museum, one of France’s major tourist attractions, was also closed amid the unrest.

The demonstrations, which began several weeks ago over overcrowded classrooms and inadequate learning facilities in public schools, have expanded into a wider movement demanding lower living costs and better governance.

The protests have attracted growing participation from adults alongside students, particularly undergraduates, as grievances over economic conditions broadened the movement’s demands.

An attempt by President Emmanuel Macron to engage student leaders on Friday failed to resolve the dispute.

The student representatives reportedly rejected the government’s offer, urging fellow students to continue occupying the streets until authorities presented a more satisfactory proposal.

The government’s latest security deployment comes amid concerns that the demonstrations could trigger further violence, property damage and disruption across the country.