Police Arrest Dozens as France Protests Resume

French authorities arrested 135 individuals on Saturday as nationwide demonstrations regarding the cost of living continued for a second consecutive week. Authorities had mobilized up to 70,000 personnel, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons, to prevent a recurrence of the previous week's destruction. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that while a variety of weapons, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft weapons, had been seized, 'there has been no major incident' in the country.

Security forces utilized tear gas in Lyon to disperse approximately 150 protesters who attempted to block a road, despite demonstrations having been prohibited in that city. In Orleans, police recorded 11,000 participants in a march against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party, though organizers reported 26,000 attendees. Protesters chanted 'Macron resign. Le Pen in prison' during the gathering. In Paris, authorities described the mood as 'calm' following a decision to relocate an authorized march from the Bastille to the Porte d'Italie, a move union representative Murielle Guilbert described as 'scandalous.'

The ongoing unrest has disrupted commerce and cultural operations in the capital, where major museums remain closed and many businesses are boarded up. Art Basel opened for a single day on Friday before organizers cancelled the weekend program. The first NFL game in France, featuring the New Orleans Saints, remains scheduled for Sunday, although some related venues were shut on Saturday. A Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais match slated for Sunday has been postponed to Monday night. Approximately 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted the prior weekend.

Economic pressure regarding wages and rising living costs triggered the current wave of protests, which began last month with high school students demonstrating in the southeast of Paris. The Yellow Vests, who previously staged protests against President Macron about eight years ago, plan to hold more demonstrations on October 31, including rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls to condemn what they term the 'authoritative drift' of the government. Union representative Murielle Guilbert noted that wages have still not risen to the level they should.

Related unrest has spread to other European markets. Italy deployed additional soldiers to Milan following looting and clashes, and Premier Giorgia Meloni announced tougher penalties for minors. In Tirana, Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters demanding lower tuition and an end to corruption in education. Thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pensions, and a housing protest was expected in Lisbon. The protests in Orleans target both President Emmanuel Macron and National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, whose congress is expected to run through Sunday.