France deploys 70,000 police ahead of protests after weekend riots

France deploys 70,000 security personnel on October 24, 2026, bracing for renewed nationwide protests over rising living costs and deteriorating school conditions. Following violent riots that damaged 3,000 stores and injured 1,000 police officers the previous weekend, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez pledges extreme firmness against vandalism. Major Paris cultural sites including the Louvre close as President Emmanuel Macron attempts to quell unrest by meeting with student leaders.

Security forces deployment for October 24

• ▪French security forces will deploy specialist RAID and GIGN units, armored vehicles, helicopters, drones, mounted police, and water cannons for the October 24, 2026 protests in France
• ▪French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on October 23, 2026, that 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed across France on October 24, 2026

Student grievances and planned rallies

• ▪Protests initially erupted last month over French school conditions, with high school students protesting teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating school infrastructure
• ▪French student union UNEF declared that its planned rallies against poor school conditions would proceed on October 24, 2026, despite official protest bans
• ▪French President Emmanuel Macron scheduled an October 23, 2026 meeting at the presidential palace with student unions to discuss demands regarding school infrastructure and the Parcoursup admissions system

Government bans on unauthorized demonstrations

• ▪Paris police banned unauthorized demonstrations for October 24, 2026, authorizing only a trade union march between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation
• ▪French President Emmanuel Macron announced on October 22, 2026, that unauthorized demonstrations not organized by trade unions would be banned in coming days
• ▪Authorities in French cities including Montpellier, Rouen, Toulon, Nice, and Le Havre banned demonstrations in their downtown areas for October 24, 2026

Closures of Paris cultural venues

• ▪France's Culture Ministry announced that the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée National Picasso-Paris, and Grand Palais in Paris will close on October 24, 2026, due to safety concerns
• ▪Organizers of the Art Basel Paris fair canceled scheduled public events for Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Grand Palais over security concerns

National Rally congress and Orléans protests

• ▪Orléans authorities authorized a counter-protest against the National Rally congress organized by the C.G.T. union expecting over 20,000 participants on October 24, 2026, while banning demonstrations for October 25, 2026
• ▪Marine Le Pen's National Rally party scheduled its annual congress in Orléans, France, for the weekend of October 24–25, 2026, with 15,000 attendees expected

Casualties, arrests, and sentences from weekend riots

• ▪Protests during the weekend of October 17–18, 2026, degenerated into riots across France, injuring nearly 1,000 police officers and damaging or looting more than 3,000 stores
• ▪French courts sentenced 217 individuals to prison terms following the urban unrest during the weekend of October 17–18, 2026
• ▪French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that 1,200 people were arrested across France during cost-of-living protests on October 17, 2026

Presidential election polling results

• ▪An October 2026 Harris Interactive poll showed National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen leading presidential polling with 33% to 35% of first-round vote intentions
• ▪An October 2026 Harris Interactive poll predicted that far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon would face Marine Le Pen in a presidential run-off, with Le Pen winning around 70% of votes