France prepares 70,000 police for fresh protests as curfews remain

The protests bring together anger over rising living costs, declining public services and conditions in schools. According to World News CNA, demonstrations by high school pupils over their schools sparked a nationwide movement.

Hundreds of thousands protested on October 17, according to The Independent. Violence and looting accompanied the demonstrations, but Euronews described the unrest as overshadowing peaceful protests, a distinction that matters as authorities tighten restrictions on further gatherings.

Following the October 17 unrest, authorities imposed curfews in certain cities. Telegraaf reported that some calm returned after those measures, although officials remained concerned about another weekend of violence.

On October 22, President Emmanuel Macron said demonstrations deemed "illegitimate" would be banned in the coming days, according to the Guardian. Il Post reported that he had asked prefects not to authorize demonstrations organized by groups considered to lack legitimacy.

The restrictions varied by location. By October 22, authorities had approved only one of two requested routes in Paris, banned gatherings in Lyon and prohibited demonstrations in central Nice, according to Franceinfo. France24 also reported that curfews in certain areas of Paris had been extended, from 11pm to 6am each night until Monday morning.

The legal response was already substantial. On October 22, nu.nl reported 2,700 arrests and 217 prison sentences following the previous Saturday's unrest.

On October 23, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez outlined a deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes, including armored vehicles and elite units, according to Franceinfo. That same day, Le Monde reported a reversal in Marseille: after dropping a planned 24-hour public transport shutdown, the prefect also withdrew a blanket protest ban, with a demonstration authorized for Saturday at 2pm.

France is preparing for October 24 with a combination of police reinforcements, gathering restrictions and extended curfews. Businesses are boarding up windows amid fears of renewed violence, The Independent reported. The Louvre will close on Saturday on the recommendation of the Paris police prefecture, according to CNN Brasil.

Macron is also set to meet student representatives for the first time since the mobilization began, France24 reported. That planned meeting addresses the school grievances behind the movement, alongside the government's security response.

The immediate test is whether October 24 demonstrations proceed without a repeat of the violence. NDTV reported that officials warned of calls for violence and looting circulating on social media ahead of the planned nationwide deployment.

The other question is whether talks with student representatives produce any response to their demands. The supplied coverage describes the planned meeting but does not report an agreement or specific concessions.