France on high alert ahead of weekend protests

French authorities are on high alert as the country prepares for a new wave of mass protests scheduled for this weekend. In response to recent violent clashes and looting, the government has deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, supported by elite units, twenty armored Centaure vehicles, and fifteen water cannons. A nighttime curfew remains in effect across major cities, including Paris, Lyon, Nice, and Marseille, with specific restrictions for Paris and the Place de la République, lasting at least until October 26.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and other officials have attributed calls for violence to far-left and radical groups, while leftist political parties accuse the government of unfairly targeting them for the ongoing unrest. Amid the tension, President Emmanuel Macron has cancelled his scheduled trip to Nigeria and Senegal, set for October 28–31. The situation is further complicated by a fatal shooting of an African immigrant in a Paris suburb, which authorities have labeled a terrorist attack.

Student representatives have met with President Macron to discuss their grievances, expressing cautious satisfaction while vowing to continue mobilizations until concrete policy measures are announced. Initial government proposals are expected to be unveiled this coming Monday.