France is facing a wave of protests that have arisen due to increasing social inequalities and harsh living conditions. In this context, French officials have announced that to prevent a recurrence of the violence that occurred during nationwide protests last week, 70,000 police will be deployed to various locations across the country.
Protests and Security Measures
French Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, warned at a press conference in Paris that calls for violence and looting are being spread on social media. For this reason, many restrictions have been imposed on holding protests across the country. For example, a march organized by unions in Paris has been banned due to safety concerns.
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Many major museums in Paris, including the Louvre, will also be closed during these days. The protests are related to a critical political period in France; as presidential elections will be held in six months to select a successor to Emmanuel Macron. Polls indicate that far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is leading, and these events may have increased her popularity.
Recent Incidents and Their Impacts
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted on Friday to a shooting that occurred near Paris, resulting in one death and five injuries, including a 12-year-old girl. Macron described this attack as a "turning point" and labeled it a "terrorist act" aimed at killing our compatriots and children due to their skin color or religion.
Officials have stated that the deceased victim was "of African descent" and most of the injured were from foreign backgrounds. This shooting is likely to escalate tensions ahead of the planned protests on Saturday, and some right-wing politicians have pointed to immigration as a reason for this violence.
France is preparing for another day of widespread protests, while last week witnessed violent riots on the sidelines of protests against social inequality and cuts to public services and education. The current wave of protests sweeping the country follows largely peaceful demonstrations by students regarding educational conditions.
While 70,000 police forces will be deployed in Paris and other cities, restrictions on holding protests have also been imposed in several areas. These protests in France have spread to other European countries, with Italy also expecting to hold large demonstrations.
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