France deploys 70,000 police officers in anticipation of Saturday protests against the cost of living

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday that 70,000 security personnel will be deployed nationwide on Saturday to maintain order, adding that calls for looting and violence have been issued by the far left. During a press conference, Nunez said, “Look at social media: the far left has issued calls to target public buildings. We are not talking about a peaceful demonstration.” He added, “We are fully prepared for tomorrow to take an extremely firm stance, and we will not compromise on anything,” clarifying that the deployment would include local security forces across various regions, as well as units of the Mobile Gendarmerie. The minister confirmed the participation of elite national police units RAID and the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI), along with the deployment of helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannon trucks.

Earlier on Thursday, the French Ministry of Culture announced the closure of the Louvre Museum and several other museums in the capital, Paris, in anticipation of violence and looting amid the planned protests. Last week’s demonstrations turned chaotic, with participants setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing and looting shop windows, and clashing with police. These are the most violent disturbances France has seen in years.

Protesters plan to take to the streets again on Saturday to demonstrate against the rising cost of living. The Saturday marches are expected to include students, members of the CGT trade union, and activists from the Yellow Vests movement, whose protests against social injustice shook France in 2018 and 2019.