France deploys 70,000 security personnel for protests
France deployed 70,000 security personnel on October 31, 2026, to contain nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living, public education, and police violence on the eve of Halloween. Authorities faced a tense third weekend of unrest coinciding with Halloween festivities, prompting a massive state response.
Seventy Thousand Security Personnel Deployed Across France
The French Ministry of the Interior maintained a heavy security footprint across urban centers on Saturday, repeating the 70,000-personnel deployment used the previous weekend. Interior Minister Laurent Núñez warned of a very high risk of disturbances, pointing to social media calls for violence and vandalism beginning at 8:00 p.m. security forces established strict filters at access points to cities, traffic arteries, and public transit stations to intercept objects that could be used in violent acts.
The state response included specialized resources such as helicopters, drones, canine units, 26 armored vehicles, and 15 water cannons. The French National Police confirmed that the deployment aimed to guarantee the safety of authorized gatherings while preventing overflow.
Mobilisation historique 🔥✊🏽400 lycées bloqués #lycées #blocus #mobilisation pic.twitter.com/mU5MlgVCxo
Top Court Rules on Paris Protest Routes
The Conseil d’État, France’s highest administrative court, ruled on Saturday morning that mass demonstrations could not run through central Paris, Courthouse News reported. The interunion alliance had planned a traditional march from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation. Paris police prefect Patrice Faure banned the route, citing public order risks associated with Halloween masks, fake weapons, and potential unrest.
After the Paris Administrative Court initially sided with organizers on Friday evening, the Interior Ministry appealed immediately to the Conseil d’État. The high court ultimately ruled in favor of the government, forcing the Paris demonstration to shift to an approved outer route running from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the France Unbowed candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, participated in the Paris demonstration.
Fifteen Thousand Demonstrators Participate in Generally Calm Gatherings
By Saturday afternoon, approximately 15,000 demonstrators took part in nationwide protests, according to interior ministry figures. The ministry described the situation as generally calm, noting that the third weekend of protests unfolded without notable incidents.
Police made 27 arrests by 2:00pm on Saturday, compared with 217 arrests a week ago. Gatherings outside major cities required prior authorization, and unauthorized evening assemblies faced immediate dispersal.
Meanwhile, similar youth-led protests organized by the campaign group “Gen Z regelt” emerged in 34 cities across Germany on Saturday, demanding better education and lower living costs, as reported by France 24.