[Edaily Reporter Bang Sung Hoon ] Although large-scale anti-government protests took place in France for the second consecutive week, the arson and looting seen last week did not recur. This is attributed to the government’s deployment of 70,000 police officers and its efforts to preempt unrest through random checkpoints. However, clashes broke out in various locations overnight, leading to the arrest of nearly 1,000 people, and the protests are spreading across Europe.

◇“Preemptive Measures” Prevented Arson and Looting
According to Reuters and The New York Times (NYT) on the 24th (local time), protests held across France that day drew 410,000 participants according to the Ministry of the Interior and 800,000 according to the General Confederation of Labor (CGT). In Paris alone, 110,000 people took to the streets.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that 1,000 people had been arrested by that evening. This is more than 2.5 times the number arrested at the same time on the 17th (385). One person sustained serious injuries in both Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand.

Nevertheless, Minister Núñez emphasized that looting and vandalism “occurred only in a very small number of cities and were completely different from last week.” There were also no attacks targeting public buildings. He attributed the success to random checks of people attempting to enter protest zones, which led to the seizure of illegal weapons such as firework launchers and samurai swords, stating, “What has changed is the advance preparation based on the experience of the 17th.” Minister Núñez had acknowledged a lack of preparedness following the events of the 17th and expressed his intention to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron kept him in his post.

The French government deployed 70,000 police and gendarmes for these protests. This was an increase of 10,000 from last week, and armored vehicles, drones, and helicopters were also mobilized. This is significantly more than the 45,000 personnel deployed in 2023 when riots broke out following the police shooting that killed 10 teenagers. Military personnel were tasked with guarding key facilities. Paris resembled a city under lockdown, with about 20 subway stations closed and museums such as the Louvre and the Orsay closed to the public.

The clashes began after dark. In Paris, at Porte de Vincennes—the march’s final destination—about 500 masked rioters confronted police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. In Marseille, protesters erected barricades out of sheet metal and threw rocks and bottles at police. Several stores, including jewelry shops and supermarkets, were looted. In Nice, in the south, far-right activists attacked protesters; Minister Núñez described this as a “first” in the current situation.

◇Backlash Against Curfews and Ban on Assemblies: “Violation of Freedom of Assembly”
Authorities imposed curfews in over 100 cities or banned gatherings in high-risk areas. Lyon and Nice imposed a complete ban on protests. Paris police initially approved a march from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation but reversed their decision on the evening of the 23rd, citing concerns about violence. The march was forced to bypass the city center and head toward the outskirts of Paris.

Organizers and the opposition protested that this violated the freedom of assembly. The far-left party “La France Insoumise” (LFI) criticized the move, stating, “Civil liberties cannot be used as a bargaining chip by a failed government.” A 19-year-old student from the eastern suburbs of Paris said, “They’re trying to push us to the outskirts of Paris to make us invisible,” adding, “This is what they always do to poor people. They push us aside so the rich people at the center of power aren’t bothered.”

These protests began last month with high school students demanding more teachers and improved learning environments, and have since grown into a nationwide movement protesting rising living costs and deteriorating public services.

◇Mélenchon Calls for “Weekly Protests,” Le Pen’s Election Campaign… Europe in Turmoil
The political arena is also in an uproar. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of LFI, who joined the march in Paris, warned President Macron, “Given the current situation, he will realize that this will happen every week,” adding, “There is still time to give in. After that, the only thing left will be the door out.” He also stated that a general strike could take place starting on the 5th of next month.

The far-right National Rally (RN) is reaping the political benefits. Marine Le Pen of the RN, who leads in the polls, is scheduled to officially kick off her presidential campaign on the 25th in Orléans, central France. This week, Le Pen criticized the government for failing to control the country. In Orléans, where the RN national convention was held that day, a counter-rally opposing her concluded peacefully. President Macron will step down next May.

Protests have spread across Europe. In Tirana, the capital of Albania, police fired tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets at demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Police also deployed tear gas in Brussels, Belgium, and Turin, Italy. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced that a 30-year-old man identified as the “ringleader” of the recent violent incidents had been arrested in Milan.