France braces for Saturday protests with 70,000 police and gendarmes on duty

France is preparing for further demonstrations announced for Saturday 24 October 2026. A week earlier, on 17 October, protests over social issues and the rising cost of living turned into riots. According to Polish media, perpetrators attacked public buildings and looted shops and service outlets.

Security forces and bans

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday 23 October that 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be mobilised across the country on Saturday. He said the risk of public disorder was very high. He added that local authorities would look closely at planned gatherings and decide whether to allow them.

President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that, in the coming days and especially on Saturday, the rule would be to ban gatherings called by people who are not authorised to do so. Demonstrations organised by trade unions are to be permitted.

A march is due to take place in Paris on Saturday. Authorities in Marseille and Lyon banned demonstrations, but those decisions were challenged, and administrative courts were due to rule on them on Friday. Earlier, a ban also applied in selected areas of Paris, Lyon and Lille.

Curfews and preparations in Paris

After the previous Saturday's riots, the Paris police prefecture introduced a curfew in some districts on Monday 19 October, from 11pm to 6am. Curfews also applied in places including Lille, Nice and Lyon. On Monday, a dozen or so demonstrators blocked the entrance to the Louvre, which was closed.

According to a TVN24 reporter in Paris, shopkeepers were boarding up their windows, and on Saturday museums are due to be closed and the metro switched off. Checks, including of backpacks, were also announced.

What this means for you

People planning to travel to France, including via Paris, should expect disruption. The Polish Foreign Ministry warns that movement restrictions apply in some cities, and that public transport and road traffic may be disrupted. It advises avoiding protest and blockade sites, checking announcements from the prefecture, police and town hall, and following the instructions of the authorities.