Paris confines march to city edge

A week of unrest that left shops looted and vehicles burned has set the stage for a new round of demonstrations in France. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that up to 70,000 officers will be deployed across the country for Saturday's events. These forces will be supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons.

Paris authorities altered the main march route on Friday. The demonstration is now restricted to the city's southeastern boundary, specifically the stretch between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes. This change replaces the previously planned path from Bastille to Nation. The shift aims to contain the crowd, which is expected to be large given that more than half a million people participated last week.

The movement originated in September due to staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. It has since expanded to include broader economic demands. Students are calling for 250,000 additional higher education places, the removal of the Parcoursup admissions system, and a monthly student grant increase of 200 euros. Unions are pushing for higher wages and pension reforms to address rising living costs.

Businesses in the capital are bracing for potential disruptions. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais will close for the day. Art Basel opened to the public on Friday for a single day before cancelling its weekend program. Shopkeepers have been installing barriers for days. Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, boarded up an optician's shop near Saint-Lazare station. He noted that the owner told him he was saving his life. Approximately 3,000 shops across France suffered damage or looting in the previous weekend's unrest.

Local authorities in several cities have banned rallies to maintain order. Marches are proceeding in Paris and Marseille, but events in Lyon, Nice, and Montpellier have been cancelled. Police used tear gas in Lyon on Saturday morning. Trade unions argue these bans violate the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Damage outside Paris has prompted legal action. Two suspects linked to the fire that nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall in Limoges are under formal investigation. They are being held pending trial on charges that include attempted murder of a public official. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure advised shopkeepers to hire security guards, though he later clarified that protecting businesses is a government duty.

President Emmanuel Macron faces this crisis near the end of his term, with approval ratings at their lowest point since 2017. He stated that the measures are necessary to protect city centers and public buildings. In Orléans, thousands gathered for an anti-far-right protest coinciding with a congress of Marine Le Pen's party. Victoria Ambrosini, an art teacher at Saint-Denis University, described the current economic state as unsustainable.