France Deploys 70,000 Officers as Protests Target National Rally Congress

PARIS, Oct 24 (OPA) — French security forces are bracing for a high-stakes weekend as protesters gather across the country to demonstrate against the Rassemblement National (RN), which is holding its party congress in Orléans. Authorities expect up to 30,000 people in the city, prompting a massive security operation involving 3,000 officers, armored Centaure vehicles, and aerial surveillance. The city has modified the protest route to bypass the center, marking an unprecedented scale of mobilization for the region.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the deployment of 70,000 personnel nationwide, including elite units like the RAID and GIGN, to prevent a repeat of the looting and violence observed on October 17 and 18. "We will be absolutely uncompromising," Nuñez stated, citing social media intelligence that suggests radical elements intend to incite further disorder. The government has authorized the use of water cannons and drones to maintain order, with the minister promising judicial consequences for any criminal acts.

In Paris, tensions escalated after the police prefecture issued a last-minute decree banning the planned Bastille-to-Nation protest route. Officials imposed an alternative path between Porte de Vincennes and Porte d'Italie, a decision labor unions and student organizations have condemned as an infringement on constitutional rights. Despite the ban, organizers have vowed to maintain their presence in the capital, setting the stage for potential confrontations between demonstrators and security forces.

Meanwhile, student representatives met with President Emmanuel Macron on Friday to discuss grievances regarding the Parcoursup higher education platform. While students expressed satisfaction with the president's willingness to engage, they continue to demand the platform's total repeal. The government is expected to present concrete policy responses during a meeting with the prime minister on Monday, as the administration attempts to balance civil unrest with its legislative agenda.