France to Prepare 70,000 Police Before New Protests

France will deploy some 70,000 police across the country as it prepares for new protests this weekend after some of the worst urban violence in years erupted on the sidelines of rallies a week ago, the government announced on Friday. President Emmanuel Macron, whose sources say is postponing a travel later this month to Nigeria and Senegal over the issue, convened a meeting of his defence council of top ministries and officials and was due to see security personnel.

He also met for the first time with representatives of high school students, whose demonstrations over conditions at their schools sparked a movement that has grown into a statewide display of fury against the government over the rising cost of living.

About 70,000 security personnel will be deployed on Saturday,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned at a press conference in Paris, adding that demands for violence and looting were circulating on social media.

The protests come at a crucial point for France, six months ahead of elections to replace Macron, with a new survey highlighting far-right contender Marine Le Pen as the frontrunner and suggesting the latest events have bolstered her standing.

Tensions are rising as Le Pen hosts her National Rally (RN) party congress in Orleans this weekend, where thousands of supporters are expected, but local police anticipate violence as opponents descend on the city.

The prime minister’s office asked Nunez to come to the city on Friday to “inspect the security arrangements”.

Our requests haven’t changed, and we’ll present them to Macron: the status of school infrastructure and the revamp of the Parcoursup system, Nathanael Combary, president of Renouveau Lyceen, said before the meeting with students.

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