French Unrest: Second Weekend of Protests Brings Tear Gas and 135 Arrests

France is facing its second consecutive weekend of civil unrest as authorities move to contain the spread of cost-of-living protests.

Police forces detained 135 individuals and fired tear gas at various groups of demonstrators on Saturday. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that security measures were tightened in major cities to prevent a repeat of the chaos seen the previous week. During the earlier protests, more than half a million people took to the streets. This new wave of demonstrations saw a significant turnout, prompting the deployment of up to 70,000 officers. These officers were supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. Nuñez reported that various items were seized from the crowd, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft weapons. He noted that there had been no major incidents in the country up to that point.

In Lyon, where demonstrations were officially banned, approximately 150 protesters near the city center briefly attempted to block a road. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student speaking to Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity described the police presence as really mobile. The student noted that officers came and dispersed marches before they even had a chance to form. This proactive approach seems to be a key strategy in the current security operation.

Meanwhile, in Orleans, thousands of people marched against a congress held by Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party. Le Pen is using this event to launch her bid to succeed Emmanuel Macron as president. With elections six months away, surveys indicate she is in the best position to win the race. Marchers targeted both political leaders, chanting slogans such as Macron resign and Le Pen in prison. Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed the number reached 26,000. The protest was called by about 50 groups, including unions, left-wing parties, and student organizations. French media reported that the event ended peacefully in the early afternoon. The congress is expected to continue through Sunday.

In Paris, authorities described the mood as calm as hundreds gathered at the Porte d'Italie. This was the site of the city's only authorized march. The event was originally planned for the Bastille area, but police moved it to the more remote southeastern edge of the city at the last minute. Union organizers accepted this change reluctantly. Murielle Guilbert, a union representative, called it scandalous that Macron had barred protesters from demonstrating where they wished to go. She added that wages have still not risen to the level they should. A student named Lucas told CBS Saturday Morning that it is normal for people to be angry given the current circumstances.

The unrest has significantly disrupted daily life and major events in the capital. Several major museums remain closed, and many businesses have boarded up their windows. Art Basel opened on Friday for a single day only, with organizers canceling the rest of the weekend program. The first NFL game in France, featuring the New Orleans Saints, is still scheduled for Sunday. However, some related venues were shut on Saturday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, originally planned for Sunday, has been moved to Monday night. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's protests.

These protests began last month when high school students in the southeast of Paris demonstrated for better conditions. The movement widened as people demanded relief from rising living costs. The Yellow Vests, who emerged about eight years ago to stage disruptive protests against Macron, announced they will hold more demonstrations on October 31. They plan rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls. The group is condemning the authoritarian drift of the government. Unrest has also spread to other parts of Europe, with Italy sending additional soldiers to Milan and Albania using water cannons on student protesters.

In Italy, Premier Giorgia Meloni announced tougher penalties for minors after police said they made up much of the violent crowd in Milan. In Tirana, Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters demanding lower tuition and an end to corruption in education. Thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pensions, and a housing protest was expected in Lisbon. These developments show that the pressure on European governments to address economic concerns is growing across the continent.