With 70,000 officers deployed, France braces for another weekend of protests
Police prepare for fresh unrest
Around 70,000 police officers were deployed across France ahead of demonstrations. Authorities were seeking to prevent a return of the riots and looting that shook the country the previous weekend.
More than 100 people were arrested. Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Lyon and Nantes, while luxury shops in Paris boarded up windows and brought in additional guards.
Protests widen beyond schools
The demonstrations began amid concerns about deteriorating conditions in schools. They have since spread across France, drawing on broader frustration over rising living costs and strained public services.
President Emmanuel Macron met high school unions on Friday in an effort to calm tensions ahead of the weekend. After the previous demonstrations brought serious street violence, the government imposed local curfews and closed public venues.
Paris attractions shut their doors
Museums and other cultural sites across Paris closed as a precaution, leaving tourists unable to visit attractions including the Louvre. The closures also affected the Orangerie, Jeu de Paume and Picasso museums, as well as the Tuileries Gardens complex.
Italian visitor Selena Bertoni said she had not expected the Musée d’Orsay to be closed and had paid €50 for two tickets. French visitor Heidi Rosar said the group had reached three closed museums and wished they had been warned.
Key points
- About 70,000 police officers were deployed across France ahead of demonstrations.
- More than 100 people were arrested, and tear gas was used in Lyon and Nantes.
- The protests began over school conditions and expanded amid anger over living costs and public services.
- Paris museums, tourist attractions and some metro stations closed as a precaution.