70,000 officers deployed to prevent repeat of mass looting
Sporadic clashes continue in Paris, Lyon and other major cities
128 arrested in Barcelona after stores looted
Further protests set for Saturday; general strike called for Nov. 5
About 400,000 people took to the streets across France on Sunday to protest high living costs and deteriorating educational conditions. The government deployed 70,000 police officers along with armored vehicles and helicopters, preventing a repeat of the mass looting and violence that erupted last week — but clashes between protesters and police still broke out in multiple cities, resulting in around 1,300 arrests. The unrest, which began in France, has since spread to Spain, Italy and other European countries, raising tensions across the continent.
According to Bloomberg and other outlets, approximately 400,000 people participated in the nationwide demonstrations on Sunday (local time). The turnout was smaller than the roughly 550,000 who joined protests on Oct. 17, though about 110,000 marched in Paris alone. The General Confederation of Labour, known as the CGT, which led the protests, put the nationwide figure at 800,000 — twice the government's count.
Sunday's rally was the first major demonstration since a wave of violence shook France last week, when protests descended into widespread looting and vandalism of public facilities, drawing fire over the government's ability to maintain order.
To prevent a recurrence, the government deployed around 70,000 security personnel nationwide, including counterterrorism special forces. Helicopters and armored vehicles were also mobilized, and authorities imposed protest restrictions in some areas.
The heavy security presence kept the worst violence at bay. Clashes nonetheless broke out in the final hours of demonstrations in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse.
Some protesters dressed in black with covered faces fired fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. Arrests across France totaled around 1,300.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez blamed the clashes on far-left groups, saying they had tried to "start and finish an insurrection." He credited the large police deployment with preventing the looting and property damage seen the previous week.
"We will focus all our resources over the coming days and weeks to respond to the threat," he added.
The protests disrupted daily life in central Paris. Major metro stations were closed, and prominent tourist sites including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay shut for the day. A football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais was also postponed.
Shops ranging from luxury boutiques to grocery stores boarded up their windows and cleared merchandise from shelves in anticipation of possible looting.
While the authorities' firm response contained the worst of the violence for now, the prospect of a prolonged protest movement remains.
Organizers, who have dubbed this round "Act II," say they will continue their campaign unless the government presents concrete measures to address their demands.
Le Nouveau Lycéen, the high school student group that helped ignite the nationwide protests, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Monday. The group said it would press on with demonstrations if no meaningful steps are taken to improve educational conditions.
Labor unions are also stepping up pressure. Major unions have announced a general strike for Nov. 5. The CGT said it would escalate protests until the government and employers meet workers' demands.
The Yellow Vest movement, which led the violent protests on Oct. 17, has called an additional rally for Saturday, billing it "Act III." The sit-in style demonstration will urge Parisians to gather near the National Assembly and residents elsewhere to convene in front of their local city halls.
The unrest has spread beyond France's borders. Protests driven by similar grievances — high prices and worsening educational conditions — have taken place in Spain, Italy, Belgium and Albania.
Violence flared particularly in Barcelona, Spain, where some demonstrators set fire to trash bins and looted stores near Plaça de Catalunya in the city center. Protesters also threw stones at police, triggering clashes.
Local police arrested 128 people on charges including vandalism and looting.
The French government plans to heighten its alert level ahead of Saturday's planned protests and the Nov. 5 general strike. Although mass looting has been contained, the prolonged unrest and its spread to neighboring countries are placing growing pressure on law enforcement agencies across Europe.
sjy@heraldcorp.com
