France deploys 70,000 officers for second week of cost-of-living unrest

French authorities mobilized up to 70,000 police officers for the second consecutive weekend of nationwide protests over rising living costs. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 135 people were detained on Saturday. Police also seized various weapons, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft guns.

Nuñez stated that the country has experienced no major incidents so far. He described the security strategy as involving helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to prevent a repeat of the previous week's clashes. More than 500,000 people participated in the protests last weekend, prompting a similar large turnout this week.

In Lyon, where demonstrations were officially banned, approximately 150 protesters attempted to block a road near the city center. Police used tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student told Agence France-Presse that officers were highly mobile, noting that police disperse marches before they fully form.

In Orleans, thousands marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen's National Rally party. Le Pen is using the event to launch her presidential campaign ahead of elections in six months. Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed 26,000 attended. Chanters demanded that President Emmanuel Macron resign and that Le Pen be imprisoned. The protest involved about 50 groups, including unions and student organizations, and ended peacefully in the early afternoon.

Paris saw a more subdued atmosphere, with authorities describing the mood as calm. Hundreds gathered at Porte d'Italie for the city's only authorized march. Police relocated the event from the Bastille to the southeastern edge of the city at the last minute. Murielle Guilbert, a union representative, called the move scandalous, arguing that wages have not risen sufficiently. Lucas, a student, told CBS that the anger feels normal.

The unrest has disrupted cultural and commercial life in the capital. Major museums are closed, and many businesses have boarded up their windows. Art Basel opened for a single day on Friday before organizers canceled the weekend program. A Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais soccer match scheduled for Sunday was moved to Monday night. An NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and another team remains scheduled for Sunday, though some venues were closed on Saturday. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's protests.

The movement began last month with high school students in southeastern Paris demanding better conditions. It has since expanded to include broader demands for relief from high living costs. The Yellow Vests movement announced plans for further demonstrations on Oct. 31, including rallies and a sit-in outside parliament. Protests have also spread across Europe, with Italy deploying soldiers to Milan and riot police using water cannons on students in Tirana, Albania.