On October 24, large-scale nationwide demonstrations are taking place in France, driven by citizen dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living and current government policies. According to official law enforcement data, police have detained more than 130 people during the street protests for various offences and attempts to escalate conflicts.
Mobilization Scale and Interior Ministry Data
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez officially confirmed the detention of 135 public order violators across various regions of the country. According to him, there are currently 136 separate rallies taking place on the streets of French cities, which is half the number recorded last Saturday. According to the ministry's latest estimates, the total number of street march participants on October 24 reached 35,000, while a week earlier on October 17, 60,000 citizens turned out for similar events.
Protesters' Arsenal and Security Measures
During efforts to curb unrest, French security forces seized dangerous objects and weapons from participants. Police confiscated metal and lead shot, fireworks, catapults, steel balls, homemade weapons, a katana, and airsoft equipment. Against the backdrop of heightened risks, owners of luxury boutiques and shops in major cities protected their display windows with massive wooden shields in advance and hired private security forces to prevent looting.
Political Slogans and Rallies Against the National Rally
A separate epicenter of protest activity was Orléans, where demonstrators took to the streets against the congress of the National Rally party, whose informal leader is Marine Le Pen. March participants chanted slogans such as "Macron resign! Le Pen to prison!" and carried banners with anti-fascist appeals. According to police estimates, about 11,000 people took part in this specific demonstration, expressing strong disagreement with right-wing policies.
Context and Potential Political Consequences of the Crisis
The current wave of protests is unfolding against a backdrop of tight security measures: earlier, French authorities deployed 70,000 police officers to maintain order. In this context, President Emmanuel Macron is considering introducing a ban on "illegitimate" protests. Furthermore, relevant agencies are checking information regarding possible foreign involvement in organizing street unrest in the country.
