Interior Minister Confirms 135 Detentions as French Authorities Deploy 70,000 Officers for Second Week of Protests

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Saturday that authorities had detained 135 individuals and confiscated various weapons during the second consecutive weekend of nationwide protests. The government aimed to prevent a recurrence of the previous week's unrest, which involved over half a million demonstrators. To achieve this, up to 70,000 police officers were deployed, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. Nuñez stated that the overall situation remained stable, noting that there had been no major incidents across the country so far.

The Ministry of Interior reported that seized items included metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft guns. In Lyon, where demonstrations were formally banned, approximately 150 protesters near the city center attempted to block a road. Police responded by using tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student, speaking anonymously to Agence France-Presse, described the police as "really mobile," adding that officers would disperse marches before they even formed.

In Orleans, thousands of people marched against a congress held by Marine Le Pen's National Rally party, where she is launching her bid to succeed Emmanuel Macron as president. With elections six months away, surveys indicate Le Pen is best placed to win. Chants of "Macron resign. Le Pen in prison" echoed through the crowd, according to AFP. Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed the number was 26,000. Approximately 50 groups, including unions, left-wing parties, and student organizations, had called for the protest. French media reported the event ended peacefully in the early afternoon, with the congress expected to continue through Sunday.

Authorities described the mood in Paris as calm, though hundreds gathered at the Porte d'Italie for the city's only authorized march. This location was a last-minute change from the planned Bastille, moved to the more remote southeastern edge of the city. Union representative Murielle Guilbert called the move "scandalous," arguing that Macron had barred protesters from demonstrating where they wished. She also noted that wages have not risen to the necessary level. A student named Lucas told CBS Saturday Morning that it was normal for people to be angry.

The unrest has significantly disrupted daily life in the capital. Major museums are closed, and many businesses are boarded up. Art Basel opened on Friday for one day only, cancelling its weekend program. The first NFL game in France between the New Orleans Saints and another team remains scheduled for Sunday, though some related venues were shut on Saturday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, originally planned for Sunday, has been moved to Monday night. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend's disturbances.

The protests began last month when high school students in the southeast of Paris demonstrated for better conditions, eventually widening to include demands for relief from rising living costs. The Yellow Vests, who emerged about eight years ago to stage disruptive protests against Macron, said they will hold more demonstrations on October 31. They plan rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, condemning the "authoritarian drift" of the government.

Unrest has also spread to other parts of Europe. Italy sent additional soldiers to Milan after looting and clashes occurred a week earlier. Premier Giorgia Meloni announced tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up much of the violent crowd. In Tirana, Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters demanding lower tuition and an end to corruption in education. Meanwhile, thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pensions, and a housing protest was expected in Lisbon.