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

Police deployment for Saturday

Interior minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Friday, 13 November, on LCI that about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes are expected to be mobilised on Saturday, 14 November. The day is the fifth consecutive Saturday of action against the high cost of living, called by a coordination of yellow vest groups and youth organisations. The deployment copies last Saturday's set-up and the arrangement used since 24 October, although the figure will be refined at a meeting on Friday.

Describing the approach, Nuñez said:

“It is a device that is mobile and reactive, one that adapts to what the risk groups do.”

The minister said the checks would again be carried out in depth, a method he called extremely deterrent, and that small groups breaking off to slip past police lines would meet the same flexible response. He added that police would stand firm against rioters and looters.

Planned processions across France

Nuñez expects between 50 and 60 processions across the country. He called the situation somewhat unusual because the representative trade union organisations have not declared a route for Saturday. He warned that this leaves the marches less supervised, with the lead falling to student and secondary-school groups that have less experience and do not always file notices. Several other groups have joined the day of action. The self-described "enfantiste" collective will march against violence towards children and teenagers. Several organisations opposed to a bill on the presumption of legitimate use of weapons by law enforcement will also demonstrate, which they say amounts to "a licence to kill". The movement that organised the climate marches on 26 September plans a march "for the present and future of children".

Three marches planned in Paris

An intelligence note obtained by BFMTV describes three separate demonstrations in Paris on Saturday. Organisers have announced a rally at Place de la République. The yellow vest protesters and the organisers of the march against the weapons bill plan to head for Place de la Nation, while the march against violence towards minors is aiming for Place de la Bastille. Meetings with police command on Friday are meant to agree a common route. A police source puts the number expected in the capital at between 30,000 and 60,000 people, including 300 to 600 described as "at risk". The processions are also expected to converge in several cities, notably Paris.

Turnout on the previous Saturday

On Saturday, 7 November, authorities counted 146,000 people at protests across France, including 46,000 in Paris. Those figures mark a drop compared with earlier days of mobilisation. That day's protests were framed as being both for young people and against the high cost of living. For Saturday, 14 November, the police source's Paris range of 30,000 to 60,000 overlaps with that earlier count of 46,000.

France, Saturday 7 November146,000

Paris, Saturday 7 November46,000

France, Saturday 7 November

146000 people

Paris, Saturday 7 November

46000 people

Data from the article text