من باريس إلى ليون.. فرنسا تستنفر أجهزتها الأمنية خشية انفجار الشارع

France is preparing for a new wave of protests amid fears of renewed violence and looting that occurred in several cities last week, after the government announced the deployment of around 70,000 police officers across the country on Saturday, in one of the largest security mobilizations, coinciding with rising public anger over the high cost of living and declining public services.

These measures come after widespread violence erupted on the sidelines of protests related to living conditions, where demonstrations that began peacefully turned into clashes and looting that affected Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities, while the town hall building in Limoges was partially burned and destroyed.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday that the forces involved in securing the protests would include elite units usually used in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations, noting that calls for incitement to violence had been detected on social media from groups belonging to the "far left."

Nunez added, following a meeting of senior ministers and officials chaired by President Emmanuel Macron, that the authorities are not dealing with a peaceful or friendly demonstration, emphasizing their readiness to deal firmly with any violations and not to tolerate acts of violence.

The Interior Minister explained that the security operation would include an additional 10,000 police officers, along with the use of water cannons, armored vehicles, mounted police, helicopters, and drones, as part of a plan aimed at preventing a repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed in the country over the past few days.

Closure of famous museums and preparations to protect stores

The repercussions of the security tension extended to cultural and economic life in the capital, Paris, as prominent museums and cultural institutions announced their closure on Saturday, including the Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, the Picasso Museum, and the Grand Palais, which is hosting a major exhibition of works by French artist Paul Cézanne.

The management of the "Art Basel" fair, one of the most prominent contemporary art fairs in the world, was also forced to cancel its weekend program after it opened its doors to the public on Friday for just one day, amid fears of disturbances that could threaten the safety of visitors and participants.

In the streets of Paris, shop owners reinforced their storefronts throughout the week in anticipation of looting and vandalism. Near the Place de la République, one of the main hotspots of tension during last week's protests, the windows of a bank branch and several commercial establishments were covered with wooden boards to prevent break-ins.

The Macron government is facing difficulties in containing the crisis that caught it off guard about six months before the scheduled presidential elections to choose his successor, while authorities acknowledged that they had lost control over the widespread rioting that occurred in the country last Saturday.

According to the account presented by the authorities, groups of rioters exploited protests that were largely peaceful and turned them into widespread violence and looting, while several cities witnessed vandalism of public and private property.

Nunez stressed that the authorities would not tolerate rioters, thieves, or anyone committing acts of violence, in an attempt to reassure residents and business owners who fear a repeat of the assaults.

Ban on protests in French cities and restrictions on Paris marches

Protests are expected to be organized in various regions of France on Saturday, but local authorities have imposed restrictions on gatherings in several cities, including banning some demonstrations or altering their routes to protect stores and public buildings.

Heavy rain and strong winds are also expected to contribute to reducing the number of participants, while it has been decided to prevent protesters from entering the city centers of Lyon and several other major cities.

In Paris, authorities allowed a union march on a limited route in the eastern part of the capital, between the Place de la Bastille and the Place de la Nation, to avoid passing through the city center, but rejected requests to organize gatherings submitted by the main French student union "UNEF" and the "Yellow Vests" movement.

The Yellow Vests movement had shaken France with widespread protests in 2018 and intends to organize about 600 limited events across the country on Saturday.

For its part, the student union announced that its gatherings would proceed despite the authorities' refusal to grant the necessary permits. These movements are linked to student protests that began last month due to a shortage of teachers and the deterioration of educational facilities.

In the city of Marseille, authorities had banned all protests before announcing on Friday that a union demonstration would be allowed as an exception, making it the only authorized gathering in the Bouches-du-Rhône region in the south of the country.

The restrictions imposed on protests have drawn criticism from unions and opposition forces, while several parties have challenged the ban decisions in court.

Marilys Leon, the Secretary-General of the French trade union "CFDT," accused Macron of abusing power, considering that the ban on protests has counterproductive results in light of public anger and the desire for authorities to listen to citizens' demands.

Leon stated in remarks to "TF1" television that it is not within the president's authority to determine who has the right to protest legally.

For its part, the "La France Insoumise" party, belonging to the radical left and led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, accused the government of crossing the line between democracy and a police state, warning that banning gatherings would only lead to more chaos.

Marine Le Pen in a potential confrontation with far-right opponents

Tensions are escalating as far-right leader Marine Le Pen, considered one of the leading candidates for the upcoming presidential elections in the spring, prepares to host her party's "National Rally" conference in the city of Orléans, with expectations of thousands of supporters attending, alongside leftist opponents and anti-racism activists.

In a related context, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that 217 people have been jailed since Saturday, half of whom have clean criminal records and committed offenses for the first time.

Macron had called on Thursday for the utmost firmness against criminal acts, holding gangs of rioters primarily responsible for the looting, and accusing groups from the far left of causing the most violent acts aimed at overthrowing the republic.

Shooting leaves one dead and four injured, including a child

In a development that heightened the atmosphere of anxiety, a shooting that occurred on Friday in the town of Trappes, located west of Paris, resulted in one death and four injuries, including a 12-year-old girl.

Police said the attack may have racial motives, in an incident that adds further tension to the French security scene as the country prepares for new protests amid disputes over living conditions, freedom to protest, and the government's handling of the unrest.

Protests extend to European countries

The wave of anger is not limited to France, as demonstrations are expected to be organized in several European countries over the weekend, amid growing discontent over declining public services, difficulty in obtaining affordable housing, cuts in public sector spending, and the ongoing rise in the cost of living.

Protests are scheduled for Saturday in Milan, Rome, and Turin in Italy, Vienna in Austria, Madrid, Barcelona, and other Spanish cities, as well as Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, Dublin in Ireland, and Tirana in Albania.

These movements reflect the widening circle of social discontent in Europe, as governments face increasing pressure to balance containing public anger and maintaining public security, while the restrictions imposed on protests raise debates about the limits of state power and citizens' right to demonstrate.