French Interior Minister Reports 135 Arrests Amidst Second Weekend of Unrest

French authorities mobilized a large security force for the second consecutive weekend of nationwide protests against high living costs. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that 135 people were detained on Saturday as police used tear gas in several major cities to prevent a repeat of the previous week's violence. The government deployed up to 70,000 officers supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons to manage the demonstrations.

Nuñez stated that no major incidents had occurred despite the large turnout, which followed a previous week where more than half a million people participated. Police seized various items from demonstrators, including metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, an airsoft weapon, and a katana. The security effort aimed to contain unrest that has already impacted daily life across the nation.

In Lyon, where local authorities had banned demonstrations, approximately 150 protesters near the city center attempted to block a road. Police used tear gas to disperse the group. A 21-year-old student who spoke to Agence France-Presse anonymously described the police presence as highly active. The student noted that officers moved quickly to break up marches before they could fully form.

Thousands of people marched in Orléans to protest a congress held by Marine Le Pen's National Rally party. Le Pen is using the event to launch her campaign to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in the upcoming election. Participants chanted slogans demanding Macron's resignation and Le Pen's imprisonment. Police counted 11,000 attendees, while organizers claimed the number was 26,000. The protest, called by about 50 groups including unions and student organizations, ended peacefully early in the afternoon.

In Paris, authorities described the mood as calm during the city's only authorized march at Porte d'Italie. Police moved the location from the Bastille to the southeastern edge of the city at the last minute. Union representative Murielle Guilbert called the decision scandalous, arguing that wages have not risen to the required level. Lucas, a student, told CBS Saturday Morning that it is normal for people to be angry given the economic conditions.

The unrest has forced closures and changes to major events. Major museums in Paris remain closed, and many businesses have boarded up their windows. Art Basel opened for a single day on Friday before cancelling its weekend program. The first NFL game in France, featuring the New Orleans Saints, is still scheduled for Sunday, though some related venues were closed on Saturday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais originally planned for Sunday has been moved to Monday night.

Protests began last month when high school students in the southeast of Paris demanded better conditions. The movement expanded as people sought relief from rising costs. The Yellow Vests, who emerged eight years ago to protest Macron, plan further demonstrations on October 31. They intend to hold rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls, criticizing the government's authoritarian drift. Unrest has also spread to Italy, Albania, Spain, and Portugal, with various groups protesting tuition, pensions, and living conditions.

Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the previous weekend of protests. The current security deployment is designed to mitigate similar damage while allowing citizens to demonstrate their grievances regarding the cost of living.