France is preparing a large security operation ahead of demonstrations expected on Saturday, after protests over the cost of living and school conditions escalated into violence in several cities. The government says it wants to prevent further looting and damage while keeping public-order units available for rapid intervention.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said troops from Operation Sentinelle would help guard selected sites, allowing police officers and gendarmes to focus on crowd management. The military personnel are not being assigned to replace police in direct public-order duties; their role is mainly to take over static security at sensitive locations.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has promised a substantial security presence. Authorities are also considering restrictions on demonstrations that have not been declared in advance or that are assessed as posing a risk to public order. Measures already introduced in some areas include night-time curfews.
The unrest began amid complaints about the cost of living and conditions in schools, but has widened into a broader political dispute over public spending, policing and the government’s response. The authorities face the challenge of protecting residents and businesses while preserving the right to peaceful protest.
