Laurent Nunez, the French Minister of the Interior, announced that 135 people have been arrested following nationwide protests in the country, and several weapons have also been seized. Nunez stated that the police have received necessary orders to prevent further street violence.
Security Situation and Violence Prevention
Nunez further added that the discovered weapons include metal bullets, firecrackers, axes, katanas, and airsoft guns. He emphasized that "no major incidents" have been reported yet. This morning, Nunez announced on social media his visit to the Paris intervention unit, stating: "Our forces are ready, and security measures have been well implemented."
Read more: The Polish government has approved laws to simplify abortion
New Protests by the Yellow Vests Movement
The Yellow Vests movement, which has been a key group in recent protests against the high cost of living, has planned new protests on October 31. Organizers of this group, which is mainly composed of rural areas, have called for new gatherings and sit-ins in front of parliaments and town halls across the country. They are organizing protests due to the "authoritarian turn" of President Emmanuel Macron.
Members of this group have also refused to follow police orders to change the route of their march to the outskirts of the capital, while unions have agreed to these changes. A coordinator from this group told reporters in the Place de la Bastille in Paris: "We will protest for our freedom to assemble and all our freedoms."
The Yellow Vests movement, which played a central role in protests against rising fuel prices from 2018 to 2020, has recently returned to the scene. Meanwhile, authorities have also tightened security measures in Milan and Rome to prevent a recurrence of the violence and looting observed in recent protests.
In Rome, luxury shopping streets have been closed, and stricter controls have been implemented around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo ahead of the planned protests. In addition to Rome and Milan, protests are also being planned in at least seven other cities.
In Albania, Spain, and Portugal, we are also witnessing waves of protests addressing various issues, including housing shortages and educational deficiencies. Additionally, tourists in Paris may face the closure of several key locations due to security concerns. The Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, and the Picasso Museum will not be open due to these concerns.
Security Measures and Concerns About Renewed Violence
With about 70,000 police forces being deployed on Saturday, many people in France are concerned about the recurrence of violence not only from specific protesting groups but also from law enforcement. In recent student protests, several teenagers suffered serious injuries due to police actions, and several unverified videos of violence against protesters from last week's protests have been circulated. Human rights groups like Amnesty International have described the police response to protests as "disproportionate" and have urged French authorities to adhere to their human rights commitments.
Additionally, a two-day congress of the far-right party "National Rally" (RN) will be held in the city of Orléans, which is expected to face protests from unions, leftist parties, students, and anti-racism groups. This congress is hosted by Marine Le Pen, the party's main candidate in the upcoming presidential elections in France in six months, and authorities are concerned about clashes between protesters and Le Pen supporters.
Read more: Curfew regulations announced in Paris and Nice after unrest · Mohsen Rezaei: Action against Iran has a cost
